Nacionalidades de los extranjeros arrestados por motivos políticos en Venezuela
At least 66 foreigners are arrested for political reasons in Venezuela, according to documents from the Criminal Forum of the Civil Organization. Experts believe they are potential players in how the government of Nicolás Maduro interacts with their respective countries.
The Criminal Forum report, an organization that advocates for victims of arbitrary arrests who are already political prisoners in the southern -American country, explained that the latest update on the number of foreigners or those with dual nationality arrested in the southern -American country dates back to February 28.
The majority of them, around 22 years old, hold Colombian nationality, with 10 being Colombian and 12 having dual Colombian and Venezuelan nationality. There are also 12 Spaniards: 2 exclusively hold Spanish nationality, and 10 also have Venezuelan nationality.
The criminal forum details that there are 9 Italians detained in Venezuela, 8 of whom have Venetian nationality. In the case of the United States, there are 5 detainees of that origin: one is exclusively American, and the rest also hold Bolivian, French, Mexican, and Puerto Rican nationalities.
The number of detained Americans may be even higher, according to the diplomacy of Donald Trump. Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State of the United States, denounced on March 7 through a spokesperson that «9 citizens of his country are unjustly» detained in Venezuela.
Rubio demanded that they all be immediately released and deemed it «unacceptable» that the Maduro government arrested them «under questionable circumstances and without respecting their rights.»
«The United States continues its efforts to ensure the release of the remaining Americans detained by the Venezuelan regime,» he said.
President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, met Maduro in Caracas in early February and returned to his country with six American citizens who were arrested in Venezuela and subsequently released.
From the Oval Office of the White House and after speaking with them over the phone, Trump referred to them as «hostages» of the Maduro government.
More Foreigners Detained
The Criminal Forum report also indicated that at least 4 people with dual Portuguese-Venezuelan nationality were arrested in the country by February 28.
Two Argentine men are also in custody of the Venezuelan state, with one holding Venezuelan nationality.
Additionally, two individuals with Ecuadorian nationality, one German, one from the Czech Republic, one with dual Chilean and Venezuelan nationality, and one Cuban are detained for political reasons.
The report specifies that there is a person detained with Guyanese nationality, a Dutch national, another with Hungarian and Venezuelan nationality, one with Peruvian nationality but living in the United States, a Ukrainian, and a Uruguayan.
«Kidnapped Individuals»
Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin American program at the Wilson Center’s Analysis Center, commented on the Voice of America that the foreigners detained in Venezuela are «nothing more than individuals kidnapped by the government to be used in international negotiations,» conversations that generally yield political or economic fruits.
«The United States, in particular, has shown a great interest in making transactions to free its citizens,» he explained, describing that policy as «understandable.»
However, Gedan emphasized that this bipartisan strategy, i.e., with the support of both Republicans and Democrats, «encourages hostage-taking.»
The cases reported in Venezuela bear similarities to «arbitrary» violations of human rights and international norms compared to those recorded in countries with authoritarian judicial governments like Iran, China, Belarus, Russia, and North Korea, according to international relations expert Elsa Cardozo.
These foreign prisoners are typically characterized by their legal status of «helplessness» and incarceration conditions with no consular access from their home governments, she points out. «There is no detailed argument, just the accusation that there are people who have tested the regime’s security,» Cardozo said to VOA.
In her view, they become «pressure instruments» of the political power in Caracas at the time of negotiation, holding them accountable for certain conditions.
«The Venezuelan government seeks international formality, seeking recognition and pushing to lift economic sanctions,» she concludes.
A few days before Rubio’s statement about the 9 «unjust» prisoners in Venezuela, the Trump administration issued a license ordering the American oil company Chevron to cease its operations in the nation within 30 days.
Trump explained that his decision was due to Maduro’s failure to adhere to the political and electoral agreements signed in Barbados in November 2023 and the slow pace of Venezuelan flights deported from the United States.
Maduro reiterated his willingness in public to dialogue with the Trump administration but acknowledged that the suspension of General License 41 for Chevron has «damaged» the direct talks over the past years between Venezuela and the United States.
The White House does not recognize Maduro as a democratically elected leader.
The Washington government spokesperson reaffirmed that they have maintained «very strong» support for the Venezuelans so that there is a «democratic transition» and political prisoners will be released.
The Venezuelan decision denounced over a dozen conspiracy plans against Maduro allegedly supported by foreign governments and citizens.
Between 2022 and 2023, there were negotiated exchanges involving Venezuelans and Americans, including the release of Maduro’s grandchildren and Colombian businessman and Chavismo minister of today, Alex Saab.
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