The Maduro dictatorship detained three opposition activists after María Corina Machado’s successful tour of the Portuguesa state

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In a worsening of state repression, the Venezuelan regime has come under fire for the recent arrest of three prominent political activists in the state of Portuguesa in less than 24 hours, denounced by the political parties Primero Justicia (PJ) and Vente Venezuela through their social media accounts.

The activists include Ámbar Márquez, vice president of the Primero Justicia Organization in Santa Rosalía, Portuguesa and member of the municipal campaign command; Víctor Castillo, coordinator of the Vente Venezuela command in Santa Rosalía; and Óscar Castañeda, leader of Vente Venezuela in the same state.

According to María Oropeza, state coordinator of Vente Portuguesa, Víctor Castillo has been transferred to the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Araure, while the whereabouts of the other two activists remain unconfirmed.

Opposition parties have expressed strong condemnation of the arrests, with María Oropeza describing the measure as “very serious” and Primero Justicia denouncing the regime’s “oppressive and violent nature.”

Demanding the “immediate release” of the detained activists, both Primero Justicia and Vente Venezuela have reaffirmed their commitment to defending civil and political rights in Venezuela.

The first arrest reported was that of Óscar Castañeda, who was taken into custody after participating in a campaign event in support of opposition leader María Corina Machado. A viral video of Castañeda expressing his support for Machado in a historically Chavismo-related area allegedly triggered the forced disappearance perpetrated by Sebin.

These arrests come amidst a wave of similar detentions of opposition figures accused of conspiratorial activities against the regime. Castañeda, who had recently returned to Venezuela after living in Colombia for four years, was taken into custody following his public endorsement of Machado at the campaign event in Turén, Portuguesa.

“The power wants us demobilized and afraid. If the regime does not want us to listen to Óscar, then we have more reasons to listen to him and spread it. ‘Let everyone see it!’” expressed the Voluntad Popular party in response to Castañeda’s arrest.

The situation continues to unfold as the opposition denounces what they describe as political persecution by the Venezuelan regime.