Caracas, Oct 8 (EFE).- The Venezuelan opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) demanded this Tuesday that justice be done, six years after the death of councilor Fernando Albán while he was in prison, an act for which two officials were convicted. of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin), in Caracas.
“We will not rest until we achieve justice for his death and for that of all the Venezuelans who have died, been detained and tortured unjustly at the hands of the Maduro regime,” the group said in a publication in X.
The PJ maintained that Albán was “cruelly tortured” while he was detained and “thus was reported to international organizations such as the United Nations.”
“Fernando was a social fighter, dedicated to working within the most needy communities and with a fervent democratic spirit who only wanted what the vast majority longs for in Venezuela: the freedom of the country,” he added.
In December 2021, the Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, reported that two Sebin officials were sentenced to five and ten years in prison, respectively, for the murder of Albán, who died in prison after falling from a tenth floor.
Fernando Albán died on October 8, 2018 at the Sebin facilities in Caracas, where he was detained for allegedly being involved in an alleged drone attack against President Nicolás Maduro.
Saab explained that the officials were convicted of the crimes of manslaughter (negligence), breach of custody obligations, conspiracy and facilitating aggravated escape.
In January 2019, former Venezuelan prosecutor Luisa Ortega Díaz went to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to denounce the death of Albán, whose subsequent investigation led to the conviction of the two officials, a ruling that PJ considers insufficient.
The councilor’s case is detailed in a report by the UN Independent International Mission.
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Six Years On: The Memory of Fernando Albán Lives On in Venezuela’s Quest for Justice
Today, October 10, 2024, marks a somber anniversary in Venezuela’s tumultuous history. Six years have passed since the tragic death of Fernando Albán, a councilman from the opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ), who lost his life under mysterious circumstances while in custody. As the Venezuelan opposition party PJ demands justice, we take a closer look at the events that transpired and the subsequent attempts to hold those responsible accountable.
According to reports, Fernando Albán was arrested and detained by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) on suspicion of involvement in a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro [[3]]. Tragically, on October 8, 2018, Albán’s life was cut short when he allegedly took his own life by leaping from the state police agency’s headquarters, where he was being held [[2]]. The circumstances surrounding his death raised widespread concerns and sparked outrage among the Venezuelan people.
The international community took notice, and in 2022, a US court awarded $73 million to Albán’s estate for the pain and suffering caused by his death [[1]]. Furthermore, two officials from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service were convicted in connection with Albán’s death.
As we reflect on this tragic event, it is clear that the Venezuelan government’s actions are under scrutiny. The demand for justice by the PJ party serves as a poignant reminder that the memory of Fernando Albán lives on and that those responsible must be held accountable. The conviction of the two officials is a positive step, but more needs to be done to address the systemic issues that led to this tragic event.
In the face of authoritarianism and human rights abuses, it is essential that we continue to shed light on the plight of individuals like Fernando Albán, who paid the ultimate price for their democratic aspirations. As the Venezuelan opposition party PJ continues to push for justice, we must stand in solidarity with them, demanding an end to impunity and a renewed commitment to democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
the case of Fernando Albán serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and democracy in Venezuela. As we mark the sixth anniversary of his tragic death, we honor his memory by demanding that those responsible be held accountable and that the Venezuelan government takes concrete steps to prevent such atrocities from happening again in the future.
