Persecution continues against those who provide accommodation to Machado and González Urrutia

What started in May with the closure by Seniat of a modest establishment in Corozopando Guárico state, where María Corina Machado’s team had breakfast on her political tour, has now become a list of retaliation that includes warrantless raids on private residences where the opposition leader has stayed, as well as arrests

The most recent action occurred this Thursday, July 11 in the state of Nueva Esparta. Foro Penal reported through its account on the social network members of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin), an entity attached to the Vice Presidency of the Republic, took over the house where Machado was.

#11Jl They report to us that the house in Macanao (Nueva Esparta), where he was @MariaCorinaYA on its national tour, it has been taken over by SEBIN. Days ago they would have detained and interrogated the person who was taking care of the house. These arbitrary retaliations must stop immediately. pic.twitter.com/ONDUv8JBbT

— Penal Forum (@ForoPenal) July 12, 2024

An even more serious case occurred in the state of Táchira, in the town of Palmira, where hooded armed men entered the house where an opposition leader was staying this week. The next day, police officers arrived to raid that home as well as the citizen’s company. Ricardo Albacete, owner of the house, who was also arrestedThis was reported by former parliamentarian and human rights defender, Walter Márquez.

Businessman who hosted MCM leader in Tachira, missing since the morning when he lost communication with family and friends with whom he was in contact. He was accompanied by workers who were doing maintenance on the truck that mobilized EGU and opposition leader. ALERT .

— Walter Márquez (@walter_marquez) July 11, 2024

According to Márquez, the NGOs Fundación El Amparo and Ciciven will continue to document this case to urgently send it to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The former Tachira deputy assured that the ruler Nicolás Maduro is failing to fulfill the commitment made on April 24 with the prosecutor Karim Khan of the ICC, “to guarantee electoral rights, established in the Constitution and in international treaties.”

According to the lawyer and human rights defender, Omar Mora Tosta, until the night of this Thursday, July 11, no police force gave an answer about the whereabouts of Ricardo Albacete.

Businessman Ricardo Albacete Vidal persecuted for giving shelter in his house to @MariaCorinaYA in Táchira. They raided his company and properties inside today. He was arbitrarily detained this afternoon at CCS. At this time in Sebin Helicoide and PNB, THERE IS NO INFORMATION MISSING pic.twitter.com/fvgrR6RtrW

— Omar Mora Tosta (@Omar_moratosta) July 11, 2024

But on Friday afternoon, Attorney General Tarek William Saab confirmed his arrest for allegedly planning actions against the national electrical system.

The actions of political persecution by state bodies, which began with the Seniat closing restaurants and hotels who provided their commercial services to Machado and the presidential candidate Edmundo González (in Zulia, Mérida and Aragua, among others) caused some adjustments in the logistics of the campaign tours, so they and their teams began to stay in private homes and to take the prepared food, but now the regime has chosen to attack the owners of the homes that house them with the police forces.