She is very depressed
Chelsea Correa Venero, 16 years old, She was arrested on July 29, one day after the presidential elections in Venezuelawhere spontaneous popular demonstrations rejected the questioned official result that gave victory to Nicolás Maduro, after which The authorities unleashed a repressive wave. The teenager and other minors were taken away by officials of the Bolivarian National Police in Guacara, Carabobo state.
That day Correa left his house early to buy medicine for his 4-year-old brother, but he encountered disturbances in the city, so he decided to take shelter at Residencias Prismas, next to a police station. Around 8:30 pm her mother sent a motorcycle taxi driver to look for her, but on the way home, upon noticing that the place was surrounded by officials who were shooting, She got off the motorcycle and tried to hide, although the police stopped her.
«I looked for her in hospitals, morgues… but I managed to find her on August 3, after they called to inform me that she was in the Palace of Justice. “I thought they were calling me to give me my daughter, but they were only calling me to go because that day they were going to present my daughter before the court along with 13 other minors,” he told The National Yeilyn Venero Ibarra, mother of the young woman.
Chelsea Correa had bruises all over her body
Once the teenager managed to meet her mother, she observed that She had bruises all over her body and was unbalanced. because the authorities prevented him from eating food since his arrest in retaliation because he refused to record videos in which he had to admit crimes he did not commit.
«I am asking for the release of my daughter, so far they have released five minors, but time passes and Chelsea is not being released. I was afraid to share these statements, as public defenders believed this would harm the case. Four months have passed and in that time she has had her period seven times. I ask that a doctor treat her, but to date no one has seen her,” said Venero Ibarra.
The authorities have not given Chelsea Correa’s mother a legal reason for her continued detention. Although he has tried to have a private attorney take his daughter’s case, stumbles upon the imposition of the figure of the public defender by the government.
Chelsea Valentina Correa Venero is a 16-year-old girl unjustly imprisoned in the post-election context. She was arrested on #29Jul in the state of Carabobo and accused of terrorism. Her mother, Jeilyn Venero, asks that she be released immediately.
Chelsea was arrested and presented in… pic.twitter.com/dusummLtiI
— Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners. (@clippve) December 5, 2024
“He is my right hand”
Despite the circumstances, the teenager can receive visitors who bring her food. In this way, the mother is able to contact her and be aware of what is happening.
«I am a single mother and Chelsea is my right hand. She is very depressed, She says she is tired of being imprisoned and we are desperate“The public defenders do nothing,” said Venero Ibarra.
After the July 28 elections, 1905 people are still detained after Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council, a result that the majority opposition bloc points out as fraudulent.
In a registry of the detainees, the NGO Foro Penal stated that 1,863 are adults and 42 adolescents between 14 and 17 years of ageand that 149 people were convicted.
International organizations have called for the release of all political prisoners, advocating for those imprisoned who suffer violations of their rights due to the conditions of detention and the treatment they receive from security forces.
However, persecution persists in the country against those who express opinions contrary to the Maduro government.
The United States government denounced this Saturday that the adolescents detained in Venezuela by state security agencies in post-election protests, have been victims of mistreatment during their arrest.
«Young people are our hope for the future and that is why we must take care of and protect them. However, in Venezuela detained adolescents have been victims of mistreatment, lack of food and water, and conditions that affect your mental health, including anxiety and depression«wrote the United States Embassy for Venezuela in its X account.
Young people are our hope for the future and that is why we must take care of and protect them. However, in Venezuela detained adolescents have been victims of mistreatment, lack of food and water, and conditions that affect their mental health, including anxiety and depression.… pic.twitter.com/1ywusXgEqq
— US Embassy, Venezuela (@usembassyve) December 6, 2024
ICC prosecutor demands the release of political prisoners
Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), urged the government of Nicolás Maduro on Monday to release detained teenagers by State security agencies in the post-election protests and other political prisoners in Venezuela.
«After this year’s elections I insisted in my communications with Venezuela and in public statements on the need to protect the rights of civilians, including children, who should be released if they are detained for political reasons or anyone who was peacefully protesting“Khan said during his speech at the opening session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in The Hague.
#BREAKING The ICC prosecutor demanded the release of children and other political prisoners in Venezuela and warned the Maduro regime that “complementarity is running out of steam.” https://t.co/0qRdA3dwwq pic.twitter.com/58a0sOu8K5
— We monitor (@monitoreamos) December 2, 2024
The Prosecutor’s Office the ICC analyzes the complaints received after the presidential elections of July 28. «We are closely following current events in Venezuela following the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, and confirms that it is independently and impartially analyzing the information transmitted to it regarding allegations of crimes that may fall within the jurisdiction of the Cut,” the office said in September.
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