- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
(CNN Spanish) - The vice president of Information and Communication of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, presented this Thursday the testimony of another of the Americans detained in an alleged maritime raid this week.
This is retired military man Airan Berry, who is seen in an edited video, looking at the camera and answering questions in English about the role he would have played in the operation.
- American brother detained in Venezuela: "I'm glad they didn't beat him up"
When answering questions asked by someone off camera, Berry says he participated in an operation organized by the American security company Silvercorp.
It is unclear if Berry was speaking under pressure and if there was an attorney present at the time.
Berry and the other American detained during this failed operation, Luke Denman, will be tried in criminal court for their role in the alleged operation, said questioned President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday.
Berry was arrested this Monday along with a group of people who had participated in an alleged armed maritime raid in the La Guaira state, one hour from Caracas, which would be part of Operation Gideon, with the aim of overthrowing Maduro, according to the version of the Venezuelan authorities.
The Maduro government has in the past released edited videos of "confessions," a practice heavily criticized by human rights groups.
The United States State Department said in recent days that the Venezuelan government's accusations against Washington are part of a disinformation campaign.
In a statement sent to CNN, Berry's wife claims that her husband deserves to be repatriated to the United States.
Melanie Berry says she found out about the arrest through the media. Since then he has tried to obtain more information on his whereabouts, without success.
“My husband is a decorated Special Forces soldier who has risked his life to serve his country. Airan is faithful and loves her country, "says the woman, and asks that, after so many years" risking her life for the United States, "the government of this country use all available resources to repatriate her husband.
Operation Gideon