Venezuelan Officer Dies in Custody as Prosecutors Cite Stroke and Cardiac Arrest

Overview

• Venezuela’s Public Ministry said Edison José Torres Fernández, 52, fell ill in custody, was moved to a Caracas hospital, and died after a cerebrovascular event followed by cardiac arrest.
• Torres Fernández, a Portuguesa state police officer detained on December 9 for sharing critical messages, faced charges of treason and association to commit crimes, according to opposition and NGOs.
• CLIPP and other rights organizations report no adequate official details about the circumstances of his death or the medical care he received, calling for transparency and accountability.
• The interim government’s promised releases have progressed slowly, with NGOs counting roughly 17 to 22 people freed since Thursday, including notable opposition figures such as Enrique Márquez and Rocío San Miguel.
• Human-rights groups estimate more than 800 political prisoners in Venezuela, with some counts reaching 1,200, and record at least 18 deaths in state custody since 2014 as families keep vigils outside El Rodeo I and the Helicoide under heightened international pressure following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro.