Juan Requesens, a deputy of the Venezuelan National Assembly, was arrested as a suspect in the Caracas drone attack, an alleged assassination plot on the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The circumstances of his arrest and detention are controversial,[1][2] and irregularities surround the legal proceedings.[3] Requesens was imprisoned in El Helicoide[4] from his arrest on 7 August 2018, with allegations of torture to coerce a confession,[a] and delays impeding the legal process and hearings[5] until his release on 28 August 2020.[6]
Requesens' detention has been condemned by the National Assembly – as well as international diplomats, politicians and organizations – and large protests have been held in Venezuela demanding that he be freed.[b] His relatives and fellow politicians have stated that he was arrested for criticizing Maduro.[7] The National Assembly condemned the detention of Requesens as a forced disappearance.[8] Voice of America writes that Requesens' detention has become symbolic of human rights abuses in Venezuela.[9]
The Twitter hashtag "#YoMeNiegoARendirme" – Spanish for "I refuse to give up" – became a popular slogan for his case,[10][11] and a creed for the opposition.[12]
- ^ "Dictadura en pleno desarrollo: Así se llevaron a los golpes a los hermanos Requesens (VIDEO)" [Dictatorship in full swing: Taking the coup to the Requesens siblings]. La Patilla (in European Spanish). 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Smith, Scott (7 August 2018). "Venezuela's President Ties Opposition Leader to Drone Attack". US News. Associated Press. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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22FebHearingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Venezuelan opposition lawmaker Requesens released from prison: video". Reuters. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "Venezuelan officials release video from jailed lawmaker". AP News. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ "Condenan desaparición forzada de Juan Requesens". El Nacional (in Spanish). 10 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
- ^ "Venezuela: Juan Requesens recibe visita navideña en la cárcel". Voz de América (in Spanish). 26 December 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
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