IACHR Press Office
Washington, D.C. — On January 1, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued Resolution 1/2025 granting precautionary measures to Nahuel Agustín Gallo, whose rights to life and personal integrity it deems to be at grave and urgent risk of experiencing irreparable harm in Venezuela.
According to the request, Nahuel Gallo is a First Corporal of Argentina's National Gendarmerie and was detained on December 8, 2024, at the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge in Ureña, Venezuela. Gallo sought to enter the country to visit his Venezuelan wife and two-year-old son. He had valid travel documentation, including a passport and round-trip ticket, and intended to stay at his wife's residence during the visit.
At approximately 8:40 am on December 8, Venezuelan authorities called Gallo aside for an interview before seizing his phone and leaving him incommunicado. At 10:57 am, he managed to contact his wife from the telephone of a taxi driver, informing her that he was being taken for a second "interview." The taxi driver later reported that Gallo was transferred by officers of the Department of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), whom he identified by their vehicle's markings.
Since then, Gallo's whereabouts have remained unknown. The request noted that while high-ranking Venezuelan officials have allegedly publicly acknowledged his detention, no details have been provided regarding the reasons for his arrest, any charges against him, his current location, or his physical condition and health status.
On December 17, 2024, Gallo's legal representatives in Venezuela were summoned to the Public Prosecutor's Office, purportedly to be informed of his whereabouts. However, they were instead told that their complaint regarding his disappearance would not be processed, and no further information was provided. Attempts to file the complaint with the Attorney General's Office in Caracas were also rejected. Gallo's mother-in-law visited the DGCIM headquarters in Boleíta, Caracas, seeking information on his whereabouts, but officials responded that he was not being held on the premises.
The requesting party also alleges that the Venezuelan State has refused to respond to requests regarding Nahuel Gallo's whereabouts, the conditions of his detention, and his physical and mental health, prompting them to describe the situation as a "forced disappearance." The Venezuelan State has not yet responded to the IACHR's inquiries.
After analyzing the facts and legal arguments presented by the requesting party, the IACHR concluded that Gallo has been deprived of his liberty by Venezuelan State agents since December 8, 2024, and that his whereabouts remain unknown. Although high-ranking officials have stated that the proposed beneficiary is being detained, the authorities have failed to provide essential information regarding his legal status, including the charges or accusations against him; the competent court handling his case; the reference number of any criminal proceedings; the existence of an arrest warrant; whether he has received the necessary medical attention; and the exact location at which he is being held.
Public statements from high-ranking Venezuelan authorities have revealed that no actions have been taken to enable Gallo to communicate with the Argentinian authorities, nor have they allowed domestic protection mechanisms to be requested.
Given the circumstances, the IACHR determined that Gallo's case meets the criteria of seriousness, urgency, and irreparable ability outlined in article 25 of its Rules of Procedure. Consequently, it requested that the Venezuelan State:
The granting of these precautionary measures and their implementation by the State does not constitute a decision on any petitions that may be filed with the inter-American system concerning violations of rights protected by the applicable instruments.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) is an autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS) whose mandate is based on the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and defend human rights throughout the Americas and to serve as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR consists of seven independent members elected by the OAS General Assembly who serve in a personal capacity and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.
No. 001/25
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