IACHR publishes report on human rights violations following the elections in Venezuela

January 7, 2025

Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has released its new report, Venezuela: Serious Human Rights Violations Following the Elections (available in Spanish). The report analyzes the three stages of the Venezuelan regime's repressive strategy to suppress the participation of the opposition in politics; prevent the possibility of free, fair, competitive, transparent elections; and instill fear among the population to maintain its hold on power.

During the first stage, in the run-up to the elections, the Venezuelan State hindered the opposition from participating in politics by leveraging its control over key institutions such as the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Comptroller General's Office, and the Supreme Court of Justice. The regime has arbitrarily detained members of the opposition, human rights defenders, and social leaders, and has intimidated and publicly discredited opposition leaders.

The second phase of the repression took place on election day, July 28. The National Electoral Council suspended public broadcasts of results and refused to release voting records confirming Nicolás Maduro's declared victory. This led to widespread allegations of electoral fraud and significant public discontent. Anticipating electoral fraud, the opposition collected 83.5% of the country's voting tally sheets, which bore valid seals, signatures, and security codes. The statistics from these sheets indicate that Edmundo González Urrutia won the election.

The months following the election constitute the third phase in the strategy of repression, during which violence has intensified in response to protests against the alleged electoral fraud. Around 300 spontaneous demonstrations have been violently suppressed by state security forces and pro-regime civilian groups. Operation Tun Tun resulted in at least 25 deaths, more than 2000 arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, acts of torture, and other grave human rights violations. Security forces have conducted raids without warrants and mass arrests and waged systematic violence against protesters.

The report underscores that these human rights violations and practices of state terrorism stem from the fact that the Executive Branch has taken control of all state institutions, coupled with widespread corruption and the weakening of public authorities, allowing the regime to act with total impunity. The IACHR concludes that the circumstances surrounding the July 28 presidential election constitute a severe disruption to Venezuela's constitutional order. The lack of electoral transparency and documented restrictions on political rights make the IACHR unable to recognize Nicolás Maduro's re-election as democratically legitimate.

Given the circumstances, the IACHR calls on the Venezuelan regime to immediately cease all political persecution, repression, and arbitrary detentions and to urgently release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained. It urges the regime to restore constitutional order and rebuild the separation and independence of the branches of government. It also calls for all voting records to be published and for an internationally monitored independent electoral audit to be conducted.

Lastly, the IACHR reiterates its unwavering commitment to and solidarity with the Venezuelan people, calling again on the international community to acknowledge the severity of the human rights crisis in the country, remain vigilant against further escalation of repression, and implement all available diplomatic and institutional mechanisms to facilitate the return to democratic rule.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate stems from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has the mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS on the matter. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 007/25

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