A month after Venezuela’s contested election, the opposition fights on
Washington PostAug 19
Venezuela Releases 86 Teenagers Arrested in Post-Election Protests
Above: Opposition supporters welcome opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during the 'Gran Protesta Mundial por la Verdad' opposition protest on August 17, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. Image copyright: Jesus Vargas/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Seventy four boys and 12 girls aged 14 to 17 — all arrested for participating in anti-government protests that have taken place since Venezuela's July 28 election — were reportedly freed between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1.
The government has allegedly detained more than 100 minors — some as young as 13 — since the start of the deadly protests, charging them with terrorism.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Venezuela's authoritarian Bolivarian regime faces impending doom, as its popularity has finally evaporated. Maduro is desperate to maintain his grip on power through terror, along with the repression of opposition leaders and ordinary people. Edmundo González won the popular vote and the nation will keep fighting until democracy is enacted.
Establishment-critical narrative
Far-right mobs in Venezuela have turned to street violence after yet another US-backed, undemocratic attempt to overthrow Maduro. These teenage vandals are part of this socially damaging disruption. Pres. Nicolás Maduro is the rightful winner of the election, and allegations doubting the result of the 2024 vote must end.