Relatives of the national training coordinator of the Venezuelan NGO Súmate, Nelida Sanchezarrested on Monday, does not know what charges are against her, the non-governmental organization dedicated to electoral issues reported on Sunday.
“This September 1st, Nélida Sánchez, national coordinator of Súmate and human rights defender, meets seven days after his arrest and it is unjustly imprisoned in the Helicoide“His relatives still do not know the crimes he is accused of and are asking that they guarantee his right to a defence with his lawyers,” the NGO said in a message published in X.
On Friday, Súmate said he had been informed that Sánchez was being held in Helicoide, one of the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Caracas.
This #01sept. Nélida Sánchez, national coordinator of @Sumate and human rights defender, has been in detention for 7 days and is being unjustly detained in El Helicoide. His relatives still do not know the crimes he is accused of and are asking to guarantee his right to defense before his lawyers. pic.twitter.com/Bsq1mijDiU
– AC Súmate (@Sumate) September 1, 2024
The organization demanded on Thursday, through a statement, the release of Sánchez, after more than 72 hours of “unjust” detention, by – it said – Sebin officials.
“We demand his full freedom and that he be guaranteed the enjoyment and exercise of his right to communicate with his family and his lawyers.“, to due process, to life and health, established (…) in the Venezuelan Constitution,” the non-governmental organization said.
They then indicated that her lawyers and family had not been able to have direct contact with her.
In the text, Súmate assures that Sánchez suffers from “certain chronic diseases, especially heart disease, which causes chronic circulatory problems, in addition to suffering from fibromyalgia and asthma”, for which he requests that he be guaranteed medical care and treatment.
His arrest comes amid a political crisis following the controversial re-election of Nicolas Maduro in the presidential elections of July 28, a period in which the majority opposition, which denounces “fraud”, and many organizations inside and outside the country warn of an increase in “persecution”.
According to the executive, More than 2,400 people have been arrested since July 29 -some during demonstrations and others during police operations- and 25 were murdered in acts of violence that the government attributes to the opposition, while anti-Chavistas blame the state security forces.
