United Nations human rights investigators have urged Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, to halt the “fierce repression” being perpetrated by his security forces after last month’s allegedly stolen presidential election.

In a statement published two weeks after the 28 July vote, the UN’s fact-finding mission to Venezuela condemned Maduro’s “escalating” crackdown, during which more than 100 children and teens have been detained. The UN investigators said they had recorded 23 deaths, the vast majority caused by gunfire and nearly all young men.

“Street protests, as well as criticism on social media, in the weeks following the election have been met with fierce repression by the state, as directed by its highest authorities, inducing a climate of widespread fear,” added the group, calling for a thorough investigation of “the spate of grave human rights violations that are currently occurring”.
...
On Monday, Venezuela’s strongman leader ordered officials to treat his “fascist” opponents with an “iron fist” and vowed to severely punish those challenging his government. Maduro, who has governed in an increasingly authoritarian manner since being elected in 2013, has refused to release detailed election data supporting his supposed victory, despite calls from countries including Brazil and Colombia to do so.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/13/venezuela-un-human-rights-election-protest