There are already 35 dead and 850 detainees in Venezuela

At least 35 people have died and 850 others have been arrested since January 23, when a new wave of demonstrations against Nicolás Maduro's government began placing the Speaker of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, in post of interim president of Venezuela. according to NGO.

Provea and the Conflict Observatory recorded 35 deaths as part of the opposition demonstrations, as well as "eight executions of members after the protests".

The majority of deaths took place in Caracas (10) and Bolívar (8), followed by Portuguesa (4), Amazonas and Barinas (3 each), Táchira and Monagas (2 each) and Yaracuy, Mérida and Sucre (one each) .

For its part, the Criminal Forum has estimated that 850 people have been arrested since 21 January, including 77 minors, mainly in poor neighborhoods. "To date – January 28, 2019 – there are 976 political prisoners and we are still counting," said Gonzalo Himiob, director of Foro Penal, at a press conference offered by NGOs.

The director of Provea, Rafael Uzcátegui, emphasized the importance for victims and their families to report the facts. "We need your complaints to punish the perpetrators of human rights violations," he said.

According to Uzcátegui, the Venezuelan authorities are pressuring the families of the deceased for that they omit the participation of state agents in these crimes under the threat of not surrendering the bodies.

Opposition protests resumed last Wednesday, after the big waves of 2014 and 2017, to demand the resignation of Maduro and new elections.

In the midst of anti-government demonstrations, Guaidó has been proclaimed "president in charge" of Venezuela. It has already received recognition from the United States, Canada and most countries in the region.