Operation Gideon: alleged evidence of extrajudicial executions

TW Saab talks about Guaidó and those detained by Operation Gideon 24:24

(CNN Spanish) -

The Venezuelan opposition politician Wilmer Azuaje submitted to the International Criminal Court a document and photographs that, he assures, would constitute evidence of the alleged extrajudicial executions of six people in the framework of the so-called Operation Gideon, which occurred on May 3. .

As Operation Gedeón or Macutazo there is known an alleged incursion by armed Venezuelan opponents and two US citizens who, according to the questioned government of Nicolás Maduro, had the intention of perpetrating a coup and an assassination.

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According to the version of the Interior and Defense ministries, those six deaths occurred in the middle of a confrontation.

What the photos of Operation Gideon show, according to an opponent

Azuaje told CNN that the 24 photographs show crude and explicit images in which the bodies of the deceased and experts from the security forces are visible, carrying out a survey of the scene including an analysis of the impact and trajectory of the bullets.

The description of the report warns about the alleged modification of the site of the event and the alleged symmetrical placement of the bodies.

According to Azuaje, the images in question would clearly show how these people allegedly received gunshot wounds to the head and chest from a short distance, in addition to other parts of the body.

He claims that signs of torture are also evident in the images.

It warns that among those executed are the military, police, military counterintelligence and civilians.

When asked about the origin of the images, he assured that it was thanks to "honest officials" who expressed their disagreement with this type of action.

In an email, the International Criminal Court confirmed to CNN that it received the report and that, as appropriate in all cases, it will analyze the materials received in accordance with the Rome Statute and with full independence and impartiality.

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"The first step in the process is to examine whether the message concerns matters that are manifestly outside the jurisdiction of the court," they explained.

They added that as soon as they reach a decision on what will be the next step, they will communicate it to whoever sent the report, stating their reasons.

What the Maduro government said in Venezuela

CNN requested a reaction to the Foreign Ministry of the Maduro government without having received a response so far.

Before our inquiry, Attorney General Tarek William Saab replied: "Enough has been declared on the subject."

The Maduro government in the past stated that human rights are respected and that officials who may have committed infractions were punished.

Azuaje, who is currently a regional deputy of the state of Barinas for the Democratic Unity Table, in 2007 became part of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela after the dissolution of the V Republic Movement, the platform that brought Hugo Chávez to power in 1998.

Florencia Trucco and Abel Alvarado contributed to this report

Operation Gideon