Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuelan authorities have released Carlos Correa, a prominent human rights advocate, just days after President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third term. Correa, who leads the non-profit organization Espacio Publico, was taken into custody on January 7 by masked individuals in Caracas, prompting outrage from human rights organizations and international entities.
Espacio Publico announced his release early Thursday via social media. Amnesty International and the United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, had previously called for his release, denouncing the government’s campaign of “politically motivated” detentions aimed at silencing dissent and targeting opposition figures.
Correa, a well-respected professor and advocate for free speech, was one of several activists detained in the lead-up to Maduro’s inauguration on January 10. His wife disclosed that he was presented before an anti-terrorism court but was not informed about the charges against him or his location during his detention.
Maduro’s inauguration followed disputed elections last July, with opposition leaders accusing the government of electoral fraud to benefit the president. Opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez claims he won the election, yet the government has not released a detailed account of the results.
The crackdown on dissent has escalated under Maduro’s administration, with reports indicating that over 400 media outlets have been shut down in the last two decades, according to Espacio Publico. Human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, have condemned the government’s actions.
“The director of Espacio Publico should not have spent a single day in detention,” RSF stated in a release following Correa’s release.
In his inauguration speech, Maduro promised a new era of “peace, prosperity, and equality,” but activists caution that repression against opposition voices is likely to continue.
