The IACHR presented the case of Venezuelan political prisoner Víctor Navarro López and concluded that he was a victim of torture.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights presented before Inter-American Court of Human Rights Their report on Case 14,238, which refers to the situation of Venezuelan political prisoner Victor Alfonso Navarro Lopezand concluded that he was a victim of torture And? Basic aspects of his personal integrity were violated.

Following an investigation into the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and acts of violence received from state agents, the IACHR referred the document to the World Court on 17 November.

The case of Navarro López dates back to January 2018, when he was only 22 years old and worked at the Community Ambassador Foundation and the “Corazon Valiente” project. That month, the Justice Department of Nicolás Maduro’s regime initiated criminal proceedings against them for alleged participation in acts of disruption of public order and added to the charge a false report linking the organization to violent activities.

As a result, the magistrate defined the “control and neutralization” of the Foundation’s members, so agents of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) went to his house at 5:00 am on the 24th of the month and, without any court order, they detained him illegally, Navarro Lopez transferred to notorious prison CircleThe largest torture center in Latin America, where he was tortured inhumane treatment -such as overcrowding, lack of access to ventilation, lighting, water or medical care, HITS And Threat All kinds.

A little more than 20 days later, on January 26, a presentence hearing was held that also included nine other defendants. In this example, contrary to Sabin’s allegations and actions, The judge in charge of the case ordered the release of Navarro Lopez as a precautionary measure And ordered that booklets be issued for their release. still, The Maduro regime did not bid him farewell until June 2. That year, he was deprived of his liberty for more than four months without reason.

Once released, the preliminary hearing of the criminal proceedings was postponed ten times and, for fear of being arbitrarily and illegally detained again, May 2019 Opted for go into exile by country. He first fled to Colombia and later reached Argentina as a refugee.

After evaluating his case and his time in a detention center renowned for receiving political prisoners – opponents of Maduro – and holding them under inhumane regimes, the IACHR prepared an admissibility and merits report in which it pointed against the ruling party. Did. Venezuela.

First, he held that the raid on January 24 and the detention of the defendants lacked a court order and legal justification, which the judge also concluded during the hearing. In turn, he defined it the deprivation of his liberty was arbitrary Since once his release was ordered – subject to necessary requirements – he remained in prison.

Third, the IACHR evaluated and considered the conditions of his detention fraudulent And coincides with cruel, inhuman and degrading treatmentand condemned that Refusal to appear in court with one’s lawyer His right to defense was affected. Similarly, he considered that the actions of the court-appointed lawyer were not effective.

Similarly, the Commission stated that Navarro López was Victim of stigma in media and that his right to the protection of his honor and reputation and the presumption of innocence were violated. Ultimately, he concluded that his departure from the country was motivated by the violence, persecution, and fear created by the Chavista regime and he regretted the loss of psychological and moral integrity that his family suffered due to the lack of information about his whereabouts. Had to endure.

As a result of all this, the Organization in its report found the Venezuelan State guilty of violating the rights established in Articles 5.1 and 5.2 (right to personal integrity), 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 (right to personal liberty), 8.1, 8.2 (right to personal integrity), and 8.1 (right to personal liberty). the right to judicial guarantees), 11 (right to dignity and respect), 22.1 (right to freedom of movement and residence), 25.1 (right to judicial protection), of the American Convention, in relation to Article 1.1 of the same instrument, and the right to torture Articles 1, 6 and 8 of the Inter-American Convention to prevent and punish.

Faced with these allegations, the IACHR urged Maduro and his cabinet to promote repair measures against the victim, including, inter alia, financial compensation and satisfaction measures for violations of their human rights; Guaranteeing physical and mental health care for both Navarro López and his family on a voluntary and concrete basis; Initiation or continuation of relevant legal processes in a fair, effective manner and within a reasonable time to clarify the facts and hold those responsible accountable.

The State also requested that the State take action to prevent SEBIN agents from acting in this manner again, provide detention conditions in accordance with international standards in Helicoide, strengthen investigative capabilities of the judiciary and training programs for staff. Design it. States are involved in the security and prevention of violence against people and their human rights.