The Venezuelan opposition denounces the “cruel murder” of one of its leaders

“He was murdered after being kidnapped by members of the State security agencies,” the note added.

According to VP, Santos was detained at the headquarters of the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) in the town of Guasdualito (Apure state).

María Corina Machado demanded for her part “that international justice be applied to the crimes against humanity that are increasing in Venezuela.” “Edwin was kidnapped on Wednesday when he was on his way home, according to witnesses, by regime security agents,” Machado said from hiding.

His arrest was not confirmed by the authorities, while the organization reported a “forced disappearance” since October 23.

The human rights NGO Provea warned that it is “a possible extrajudicial execution” and demanded “an urgent investigation.” The body, according to VP, was found on a bridge.

«During the last few months he kept fighting for his community, denouncing the collapse of the bridge that connects Apure with Táchira. It was on this same bridge that he was found dead this morning,” VP added. «The wife already recognized the body, but we have no details. “Unofficially they informed us that he has five shots,” leader Adriana Pichardo told AFP.

López published a photo of the body in the weeds on X. “They tortured him until they murdered him,” he said. “We will not rest until there is JUSTICE.”

Commissioner Douglas Rico, head of the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (Cicpc), stated in a statement that he died “product of a traffic accident after hitting the motorcycle he was driving against a tree.

“We reject all the false news given by some media outlets and spokespersons, who try to manipulate and inform that the National Government may be behind this unfortunate event,” said Rico.

Edmundo González Urrutia, Maduro’s rival in the July 28 elections and who denounces electoral fraud, asked to investigate the case. “Venezuela wants and needs the truth,” the former presidential candidate, exiled in Spain, expressed on social networks. Santos was a member of the campaign command of González Urrutia and Machado, the main face of the opposition mobilizations.

In 2018, the opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) denounced the murder of its militant Fernando Albánwho was also under arrest.

After the presidential elections, in which Maduro was proclaimed re-elected by the National Electoral Council (CNE) for a third term (2025-2031) amid complaints of fraud, the opposition and United Nations experts have denounced a “wave of persecution” against activists. Almost 160 leaders and members of political parties are detained accused of planning the overthrow of Maduro and 22 of them belong to Voluntad Popular, according to the opposition.

“We repudiate the cruel murder of Edwin Santos,” said Edmundo González this Saturday through his networks. «The fight for freedom cannot be a death sentence that mourns a new Venezuelan family.