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Ex-head of state Hugo Chávez (left) with his defense minister Raúl Isaías Baduel in 2006
Photo: JENNY FUNG / AFP
He was considered the most important political prisoner in the country: the Venezuelan general Raúl Isaías Baduel died in prison after being infected with the corona virus.
"We regret the death of Raúl Isaías Baduel," said Attorney General Tarek Saab on Twitter.
Baduel was a former supporter of ex-President Hugo Chavez and had worked as defense minister under the former head of state before falling out with Chavez.
The 66-year-old had previously received a first vaccination against the coronavirus and had "received adequate medical care," Saab said.
Baduel was arrested in 2009 for misappropriating funds and abusing power while in government.
He was very close to Chavez in the 1980s.
In 2002, he also led a military operation that brought the president back to power after a brief coup d'état.
Imprisoned by Chavez, imprisoned by Maduro
Baduel was Minister of Defense in 2006 and 2007.
Eventually, however, he fell out with Chavez.
At the end of 2007 he sharply criticized the referendum on a new constitution, which should bring Chavez a considerable increase in power.
This then insulted Baduel as a "traitor".
After his release in 2015, he was detained again.
This time he was accused of conspiracy against incumbent President Nicolás Maduro.
mrc / dpa