Two top energy officials in Venezuela were arrested, following the detention of a former oil minister, amid an investigation into significant revenue losses at Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Erick Pérez and Juan Santana, vice ministers for oil and gas respectively, were detained on Saturday. This comes after the arrest of Tareck El Aissami, Maduro’s former oil minister, who faces charges of treason and money laundering related to the disappearance of billions in oil proceeds. The Venezuelan oil ministry has not commented on the arrests yet. These developments coincide with the upcoming presidential election on July 28, criticized for unfair conditions and the exclusion of opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado. Maduro, seeking a third term, proposed constitutional reforms allowing life sentences and political bans for corruption and treason convictions. Former finance minister Simon Zerpa and businessman Samark López were also arrested on similar charges. Over 50 individuals, including judges and business leaders, have been detained. The US has signaled its readiness to let a significant oil and gas license expire if Venezuela doesn’t move towards democratic elections.
By FCCT Editorial Team
, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan raped several dozen women and girls in West Darfur’s capital, El Geneina, and those fleeing to Chad between late April and late June 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. The assailants appear to have targeted people because of their Massalit ethnicity and, in some cases, because they were known activists.){kind=link}