A total of 33 Venezuelan soldiers
were demoted and expelled
from the Armed Forces for their alleged connection
with assassination "conspiracies"
denounced by the authorities this week, a measure questioned by experts and in the crosshairs of the United States.
A division general, two colonels, six lieutenant colonels, nine majors, two captains, six first lieutenants and seven sergeants are identified by name and surname in a statement.
They are allegedly "involved in conspiracies through the planning of
criminal and terrorist actions
to attack the legitimately constituted government system, the authorities and institutions of the State and the Venezuelan people, even contemplating
the assassination of the first
national leader, all of which represents ' Acts of Treason against the Homeland,'" said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.
"These traitors who should never have had and worn the military uniform (...),
are not worthy
," Padrino said in a video published on his social networks.
"They are groups that do not represent the Armed Forces at all."
The main support of the regime
The military
is the main support of
Nicolás Maduro's government and has repeatedly reaffirmed their loyalty to him.
The military is the main support of Nicolás Maduro's government and has repeatedly reaffirmed their loyalty to him.
Photo: EFE
In addition to weapons, they control
mining, oil and food distribution companies
, as well as customs and important ministries.
The opposition and NGOs denounce
corruption networks
that have
enriched many officials.
Assassination: a repeated complaint
Reports of assassination
are frequent in Chavismo,
which celebrates
25 years in power
in 2024 and its continuity is at stake in elections that do not yet have a date.
The Venezuelan prosecutor's office reported on Monday the arrest of 32 people, including civilians and military personnel, for these alleged conspiracies, and on Tuesday announced new arrests without specifying a number.
They are all linked to
five alleged plans to assassinate Maduro
revealed in 2023 and the beginning of this year, according to Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who also denounced complicity of the
United States
anti-drug agency (DEA) and intelligence agency (CIA)
. as well as actors from the
Colombian Army.
Reports of assassination are frequent in Chavismo, which celebrates 25 years in power.
Photo: Yuri Cortez/ AFP
Padrino also echoed these accusations.
"I tell
the imperial sewers of the CIA, the DEA,
those who here are also played into the hands of traitor Venezuelans: we will not tire of fighting the battle," he expressed in the video.
Rocío San Miguel, a military expert and habitual critic of the government,
identified irregularities
in the act of demotion and expulsion, which took place in the Ministry's Courtyard of Honor.
He explained that the measures are "accessory penalties" to a main penalty, which must be public.
"They are subject to jurisdictional control and the provisions set forth in the Organic Code of Military Justice must be complied with," he insisted in a note from his NGO, Citizen Control.
"There are several aspects that
are unknown
about these expulsions and demotions of military personnel."
The United States, for its part, was "deeply concerned" by the latest arrests, which according to the White House
were made for "not very credible" reasons.
"
Arrests without due process
go against the spirit of the October 2023 electoral roadmap agreement," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday.
It refers to what was signed by
the opposition and the Venezuelan government
in Barbados to hold the presidential elections in the second half of this year with international observation.
In exchange, Washington relaxed a strict embargo on Venezuelan crude oil.
Venezuela "categorically" rejected
the "cynical" statement
.
"The government of the United States of America has lost its moral compass" by "condemning Venezuela for taking actions (...) to preserve peace."
"It is not surprising that Washington advocates in favor of the architects of the frustrated terrorist operations in Venezuela and even provides them with its complicit position," he added.
"Defending these destabilizing actions encourages violence and threatens the normal development of the 2024 electoral process."