Itamaraty condemns episodes of arrests and persecution of Maduro’s opponents

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement released recently, said that the Brazilian government “deplores the recent episodes of arrests, threats and persecution” of political opponents in Venezuela. Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro took office yesterday for his third term as president, in a ceremony devoid of heads of state and government.

Itamaraty declared that the Executive follows with “great concern” the allegations of human rights violations against government opponents in Venezuela.

“Brazil notes that, for the full validity of a democratic regime, it is essential that opposition leaders are guaranteed the basic rights to come and go and to demonstrate peacefully with freedom and with guarantees for their physical integrity,” said the notice.

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Itamaraty also asked Venezuelan political forces to dialogue and seek mutual understanding. According to today’s statement, there is recognition of “gestures of relaxation” by the Maduro government, such as the release of 1,500 detainees in recent months and the reopening of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Caracas.