The number of protesters who were arrested in Venezuela during mass rallies has climbed to 850, Alfredo Romero, the head of Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal, said on Monday
BUENOS AIRES (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2019) The number of protesters who were arrested in Venezuela during mass rallies has climbed to 850, Alfredo Romero, the head of Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal, said on Monday.On Saturday, Romero said the number of arrested people would soon reach 500.
"The current number is 850 people, including 77 teenagers, arrested for [taking part] in manifestations [ongoing since] January 21. On January 23 alone 696 people were arrested," Romero said on Twitter.
The situation in Venezuela, which has been struggling to overcome a political crisis amid the opposition's refusal to recognize last year's re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, significantly escalated on January 22 when the opposition-controlled National Assembly declared the president a usurper.
The very next day, National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself Venezuela's interim president.
Maduro called the opposition leader a US officials' puppet and accused Washington of attempting to organize a coup in Venezuela, declaring the decision to cut off diplomatic ties with the country.
