Venezuela protests: Jailed opposition activist describes brutality of prison life

Hundreds were arrested in protests after Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in last year's contested presidential election.

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This is how Juan, a young man aged around 20, begins his story. He alleges he was physically and psychologically tortured by Venezuelan security forces after being detained in connection with the presidential elections on 28 July.

He was one of many hundreds of people arrested during protests after the electoral authorities - which are dominated by government loyalists - announced that the incumbent, Nicolás Maduro, had won.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) did not make the voting tallies public and the Venezuelan opposition has described the official result as fraudulent, pointing out that the voting tallies it got hold of with the help of election observers suggest an overwhelming victory for its candidate, Edmundo González.

Juan was released from prison in mid-November, days after Maduro called on judicial authorities to "rectify" any injustices in the arrests.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgz5l6l7k7o

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