The United Nations has called for a "transparent, independent investigation" into the death of jailed opposition politician Fernando Alban. The opposition has accused Caracas of making Alban's death look like a suicide.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
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Venezuela's government is facing pressure as the European Union, the United Nations and the United States have called for an investigation into the death of an opposition member while in custody.
The government has said the death of Caracas city council member Fernando Alban was a suicide, alleging he jumped from a 10th-floor window of the headquarters of the state intelligence services on Monday.
Alban was arrested upon returning from a trip to New York last week, where he had visited his children and appeared with exiled opposition politician Julio Borges at the United Nations. Opposition party First Justice said the Caracas city councilor was murdered, due to statements he made at recent UN meetings in New York denouncing humans rights violations in Venezuela.
Opposition lawmakers held a small ceremony on Tuesday in the National Assembly, which last year was rendered powerless by the new all-powerful Constituent Assembly created by President Nicolas Maduro and composed of his supporters.
Alban's coffin was draped in the yellow, blue and red Venezuelan flag, as politicians and relatives gathered to mourn his death. "My father died fighting for democracy and freedom in Venezuela," his son Fernando wrote on Twitter.
Despite their lack of formal authority, outraged opposition lawmakers voted in favor of a resolution recognizing the government's "responsibility" for Alban's death, which called on the UN and the Organization of American States to designate "independent" experts to investigate.
UN, EU call for probe
UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said her office was concerned about Alban's death and noted that when he was arrested, he had not been taken before a judge within 48 hours as required under Venezuelan law.
"We do indeed call for a transparent, independent investigation to clarify the circumstances of his death," she said. "We understand there are conflicting reports on what exactly happened."
Shamdasani said responsibility for Alban's safety while in custody belonged to the Venezuelan government. She also expressed her concern about the overcrowded and horrible conditions at Venezuelan prisons, where inmates are deprived of food and drinking water.
The US Embassy in Caracas also called for an independent investigation into what it called Alban's "suspicious and violent" death.
"We strongly condemn this new violation of human rights which forms part of a long list that led to this tragedy," the embassy said on Tuesday.
In a statement, the European Union echoed the calls for "a thorough and independent investigation" to clarify the circumstances of Alban's "tragic death."
"The EU reiterates its call to the Venezuelan government to release all political prisoners," said EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic.
In June, a report by the UN Human Rights Council said Venezuelan security forces suspected of killing hundreds of demonstrators and accused criminals currently enjoy immunity from prosecution. It said that the rule of law in Venezuela is "virtually absent."
jcg/cmk (Reuters, EFE)
Venezuela on the brink
Venezuela is facing collapse amid multiple crises. DW takes a look at what has brought the oil-rich nation to its knees.
In March 2017, violent protests erupted across the country in response to a Supreme Court decision to strip the legislative branch of its powers. Amid an international outcry, President Nicolas Maduro reversed the decision, but it was too late. Thousands continued to take to the streets, calling for new elections. More than 100 people were killed in clashes with security forces.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Barreto
Hunger, a growing problem
The violence added to the ongoing economic and political crisis in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans spend more than 30 hours a week waiting in lines to shop, and are often confronted with empty shelves when they finally enter a store. President Maduro blames the crisis on US price speculation. The opposition, however, accuses the Socialist government of economic mismanagement.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/C. Becerra
Health care in crisis
The crisis has even affected health care in the oil-rich nation. Venezuelans often head to Colombia to collect medical supplies to send home, as seen in this picture. Hospitals across Venezuela have compared conditions to those seen only in war zones. As patient deaths rise, health officials have sounded the alarm on the rise of malaria and dengue fever.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/M.Duenas Castaneda
Power grab
By July 2017, Venezuela's pro-government Constituent Assembly was established. For observers, it had all the hallmarks of a power grab. The new body adopted the authority to pass legislation on a range of issues, effectively taking away the powers of Venezuela's elected congress, which was under the opposition's control. The move drew wide international condemnation.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Miraflores
The West sanctions
In response to the political crisis, the United States and European Union imposed a series of sanctions against ruling officials. The US blacklisted members of the Constituent Assembly and froze all of Maduro's assets that are subject to US jurisdiction. The EU banned arms sales to the country.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AFP/T. Schwarz
Government victorious in regional elections
In October 2017, Venezuela held two votes: regional elections and elections for governors, which were long overdue. The opposition boycotted the vote, but then split, as some candidates and small parties chose to participate. This caused a deep rift within Maduro's opponents. The government went on to sweep the vote, which detractors say was unfair and heavily favored the regime.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Debt default
In November 2017, the oil-rich, cash-poor nation faced its day of reckoning. Credit ratings agencies declared Venezuela and its state-run oil company in "selective default." But Russia offered to restructure the South American country's debt to ensure Caracas pays its other creditors. US and EU sanctions, however, limited the chance of an agreement.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
Presidential elections scheduled
The National Assembly announced in January 2018 that it would grant Maduro's call for snap presidential elections. The electoral authority, CNE, held the elections on May 20. The EU, the US and 14 Latin American nations warned that they would not recognize the results. The mainstream MUD opposition alliance boycotted the vote, leaving only one possible outcome.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Parra
Maduro wins ...
Maduro was re-elected to a second six-year term with about 68 percent of the vote. Turnout was only 46 percent, according to electoral authorities. However, the MUD opposition alliance put turnout at less than 30 percent. The Organization of American States (OAS) called the elections neither free nor fair.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Cubillos
... Guaido assumes power
But weeks into the new year, the situation took a drastic turn. On January 23, 2019, parliament president Juan Guaido declared himself interim president of Venezuela — a move that was quickly recognized by US President Donald Trump. Maduro called it a US-backed "coup." Days later, the US sanctioned Venezuela's state oil firm, while Guaido staked his claim on the country's foreign assets.
