Hundreds of Venezuelans marched to the Brazilian embassy in Caracas on Wednesday, seeking President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s help in securing the release of approximately 2,500 “political prisoners.”
The protesters, chanting “Freedom, freedom!” marked a rare demonstration since a government crackdown following the July 28 presidential elections, which left 27 people dead. The opposition claims it can prove that incumbent President Nicolas Maduro stole the election.
Placards at the protest called on Lula to “intercede for Venezuela” and demanded, “Free all the political prisoners.” Of the 2,500 detainees, rights groups claim around 2,400 were arrested in the aftermath of spontaneous protests following the announcement of Maduro’s victory. Among those detained are minors.
The opposition argues that its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, was the rightful winner of the election. Gonzalez has since sought asylum in Spain due to the threat of arrest in Venezuela. Much of the international community, including Brazil, has not recognized Maduro’s claim to a third six-year term and has requested a detailed breakdown of the voting results.
On Wednesday, protesters handed a letter to the Brazilian embassy addressed to Lula, who, alongside Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, has been leading efforts to mediate the post-election crisis. Diego Casanova, whose relative was arrested, said, “We are informing him of the conditions our loved ones are enduring, with all their human rights violated.” Organizer Andreina Baduel added, “Political prisoners are being slowly assassinated in Venezuela for thinking differently.”
Andreina’s father, Raul Baduel, a former ally of Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez, was imprisoned after breaking with the regime and died in custody in 2021.
Though Lula has traditionally been a left-wing ally of Maduro, he has recently expressed growing frustration with his regime, calling it “very unpleasant” and “authoritarian” last month.
Tensions between Brazil and Venezuela escalated further last week when Venezuela revoked Brazil’s permission to represent Argentina’s diplomatic interests in the country. Despite this, Brazil declared it would continue managing the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six Venezuelan opposition officials have sought refuge for several months. Argentina is one of seven Latin American countries whose diplomats were expelled by Venezuela after they criticized the election.