Venezuela arrests opponents allegedly tied to criminal plots ahead of elections
Ahead of Venezuela's elections in July, President Nicolás Maduro's government has arrested over dozens of the political opposition including staffers of the leading opposition presidential candidate.
MEXICO CITY — As Venezuela’s government would have it, President Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle have been the target of several conspiracies since last year that could have left them injured or worse.
Few details have been released about the alleged plots. But the government has cited them in the arrests of more than 30 people since January including a prominent human rights attorney and staffers of the leading opposition presidential candidate.
Local and international nongovernment groups, the United Nations and foreign governments have described the crackdown as a pretext to stifle political opposition ahead of the July 28 president election in which Maduro, in power since 2013, will seek a new six-year term.
The latest arrests took place Wednesday shortly before the country’s top prosecutor announced arrest warrants for nine people working with Machado’s campaign whom he accused of participating in one plot.
Oscar Murillo, general coordinator for the Venezuelan human rights group Provea, said officials are coordinating actions of the police, military and civic groups to tamp down on any anti-government activity.
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