Venezuela Rejects UN Report Critiquing Opposition Crackdown, According to Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) – The Venezuelan government has “categorically” dismissed a United Nations human rights report released on Friday that criticized its repression of political opponents and children following disputed elections, describing the report as an attempt to coerce the state.

The U.N. fact-finding mission, which focused on human rights violations, presented its findings to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report indicated that the Venezuelan government has employed increasingly violent methods to suppress political opponents and dissent in the aftermath of the contested vote on July 28.

In a statement, the government condemned the mission, calling it a symptom of the misdirection of U.N. institutions, which it claims are becoming tools for coercion and extortion against sovereign nations. It asserted that the Venezuelan state maintains high standards in the protection of human rights and has a strong framework in place for this purpose.

The statement further criticized the Human Rights Council for ignoring the government’s claims regarding U.S. sanctions and attempts on the life of President Nicolas Maduro.

The report by the U.N. mission accused Venezuelan authorities of orchestrating strategies to demobilize the opposition, limit the flow of independent information and criticism, and suppress peaceful protests.

While Venezuela’s highest court declared Maduro the victor of the election, the opposition insists that their own tallies indicate a decisive victory for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. Gonzalez has since sought political asylum in Spain following an arrest warrant issued against him.

According to non-governmental organizations, at least 25 people lost their lives during protests that erupted after the elections, with the Venezuelan government reporting around 2,400 arrests. Maduro’s regime blames the opposition for the fatalities, asserting that the protests were infiltrated by “fascists” and “extremists.”

The U.N. mission reported that 130 boys and 28 girls were detained during the protests, highlighting that some girls experienced sexual harassment while held with adult males. Authorities have since released at least 86 children.

On Friday, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres discussed the reports of human rights violations and post-election violence with Maduro, emphasizing the importance of peaceful and inclusive dialogue while acknowledging Maduro’s stance.