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The Human Rights Watch report marks the first effort by a major international organization to verify some of the two-dozen reported deaths in protests since Venezuela’s disputed presidential election.
Sept. 4, 2024, 5:50 p.m. ET
Venezuelan security forces and armed groups aligned with the government committed widespread violence against protesters and killed some of them following the country’s disputed presidential election, according to a report on Wednesday by Human Rights Watch.
Venezuelan organizations and media outlets reported 24 killings during the demonstrations, but the report marks the first effort by an international organization to verify some of them.
President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela has faced widespread domestic and international condemnation over his claim that he won a July 28 presidential vote, and the ensuing violent crackdown on demonstrations protesting that claim.
The government has yet to release any vote tallies to show that Mr. Maduro won. Tallies from electoral observers released by the opposition show that he lost decisively.
The report by Human Rights Watch, a research and advocacy nonprofit headquartered in New York, details the cases of six people who died during protests at the hands of state security forces or what appeared to be armed militia groups called colectivos.
The report said it also independently verified 11 of the 24 reported deaths by reviewing photos, videos and death certificates. The organization also interviewed 20 sources, including family members, witnesses, journalists and other human rights groups.
