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Lima Group Requests Using Human Rights Violations as Evidence in International Criminal Court

Lima Group Requests Using Human Rights Violations as Evidence in International Criminal Court

In a statement issued on October 13, 2020, the Lima Group urged that complaints about human rights violations in Venezuela included in a United Nations report, serve as evidence for the International Criminal Court in its investigations into the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro regime. “[The Lima Group governments] condemn the systematic violations of human rights perpetrated by the illegitimate regime of…

December 08, 2020
Illegitimate Constituent Assembly Confers Extraordinary Powers to Maduro

Illegitimate Constituent Assembly Confers Extraordinary Powers to Maduro

In early October, Venezuela’s illegitimate National Constituent Assembly (ANC, in Spanish) handed dictator Nicolás Maduro a law that enables him to omit or “disregard” compliance with other laws for the purpose of circumventing sanctions imposed by the international community and bolstering foreign investment. The so-called Anti-blockade Law for National Development and the Guarantee of Human Rights has the explicit purpose…

December 07, 2020
Honduras Seeks to Disrupt Cocaine Trafficking Coming from Venezuela

Honduras Seeks to Disrupt Cocaine Trafficking Coming from Venezuela

On October 21, the Honduran Air Force, upon receiving intelligence from Colombia, intercepted a narco-aircraft in Brus Laguna municipality, Gracias a Dios department, coming from Venezuela, the Honduran Office of the Attorney General said in a statement. In total, authorities counted more than 200 kilograms of cocaine that the aircraft transported. This case, the Office of the Attorney General said,…

December 04, 2020
The Two Choices for Venezuela’s Future

The Two Choices for Venezuela’s Future

As the fraudulent December 6 elections raise questions about the future of Venezuela, one thing remains clear: Venezuelans cannot have democracy while an illegitimate authoritarian regime is in power, says the U.S. Department of State. “Many of Venezuela’s most popular politicians are not permitted to run in the election, opposition political parties have been co-opted, there are no tested and…

December 03, 2020
As Fraudulent Election Nears, Maduro Cracks Down On Journalists

As Fraudulent Election Nears, Maduro Cracks Down On Journalists

Ahead of the unconstitutional and fraudulent December 6 parliamentary elections in Venezuela, the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro is cracking down on journalists. The Venezuelan constitution protects freedom of expression, forbids censorship, and guarantees access to information. However, Venezuela has fallen 31 places since 2014 in the World Press Freedom Index — ranking 147 out of 180 countries — thanks…

December 02, 2020
Interim President Guaidó Calls for Referendum to Reject Regime’s Fraudulent Parliamentary Elections in December

Interim President Guaidó Calls for Referendum to Reject Regime’s Fraudulent Parliamentary Elections in December

Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó has called for a referendum (popular consultation or the People’s Vote) that will take place in parallel with the December 6 parliamentary elections promoted by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro regime. Horacio Medina, a member of the Popular Consultation Organizing Committee, said that the event will take place on December 7-12 in two phases, one digital…

December 01, 2020
OAS: Elections in Venezuela Will Not Be Free and Fair

OAS: Elections in Venezuela Will Not Be Free and Fair

The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) passed a resolution October 21 declaring that the illegitimate Maduro regime’s December 6 elections in Venezuela will be fraudulent. “We all know there is more work to do to uphold our hemisphere as a hemisphere of freedom,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during his virtual remarks to the…

December 01, 2020
Venezuelans Protest for Teachers and Basic Services

Venezuelans Protest for Teachers and Basic Services

Venezuelans continue protesting the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, demanding the restoration of basic services and better treatment for teachers. In one week, from the end of September to the beginning of October 2020, 233 protests have swept the country, from rural towns to cities such as Caracas. There were an additional 113 protests across 24 states in Venezuela during…

November 30, 2020
Brazil: Federal Police Investigates International Gold Smuggling Organization

Brazil: Federal Police Investigates International Gold Smuggling Organization

On October 9, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF, in Portuguese) launched an operation to dismantle a money laundering, tax evasion, and gold smuggling scheme from Venezuela to Brazil. “The investigations concluded that the criminal group consisted of a Lebanese citizen and his two brothers, who would coordinate the illegal scheme to purchase gold from Venezuela,” the PF said in a…

November 27, 2020
Venezuela’s Crisis Threatens Nearby Democracies

Venezuela’s Crisis Threatens Nearby Democracies

Democracy must be restored in Venezuela because undermining a democracy anywhere is a threat to democracy everywhere, experts say. “This is a country where Maduro has not only taken over most of the bigger opposition parties and tried to replace their leadership with his puppets,” said on September 1, Michael G. Kozak, acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at…

November 23, 2020
Russia’s Private Military Companies: A Threat to Latin America

Russia’s Private Military Companies: A Threat to Latin America

Private military companies, or PMCs, are legally established international firms that operate as independent corporations, trading military and paramilitary services. In recent years, Russia has taken a leading role using PMCs as an extension of its Armed Forces to advance its foreign policy objectives. The United States Congressional Research Service reported on September 16, that Russia has employed this “unofficial”…

November 18, 2020
Authorities Follow the Trail of Alex Saab, Nicolás Maduro’s Front Man

Authorities Follow the Trail of Alex Saab, Nicolás Maduro’s Front Man

The Colombian Office of the Attorney General seized assets valued at $9.8 million from Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman and Nicolás Maduro’s front man, CNN reported on October 17, 2020. Authorities seized two properties in Barranquilla and Cartagena and three companies that Saab used for money laundering, the report says. “Apparently [the companies] were used to launder money from a…

November 18, 2020