Large military purge in Venezuela under the pretext of a conspiracy: there are 33 detainees, including generals and colonels

A total of 33 Venezuelan soldiers They were demoted and expelled of the Armed Forces for their alleged connection with murderous “plots”. denounced by the authorities this week, a measure questioned by experts and targeted by the United States.

A major general, two colonels, six lieutenant colonels, nine majors, two captains, six lieutenants and seven sergeants are identified by name and surname in a statement.

They were allegedly “involved in planned conspiracies.” criminal and terrorist actions attack the legitimately constituted government system, authorities and institutions of the Venezuelan state and people, including contemplating, the assassination of the first president national, all of which represent “acts of treason against the Fatherland”, said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.

“These traitors who should never have had and worn the military uniform (…), they are not worthy“Padrino expressed himself in a video published on his social networks. “These are groups that do not represent the Armed Forces at all.”

The main support of the regime

The military They are the main support of the government of Nicolás Maduro and on several occasions they have ratified their loyalty to him.

In addition to weapons, they control mining, oil and food distribution companiesas well as customs and important ministries.

The opposition and NGOs denounce it corruption networks that has he enriched many officers.

Murder: a repeated complaint

Murder charges They are frequent in Chavismo, that he meets 25 years in power this 2024 and its continuity are 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 soldiers, for these alleged plots, and on Tuesday announced new arrests without specifying the number.

They are all connected with five alleged plans to assassinate Maduro filed in 2023 and earlier this year, according to Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who also reported complicity of the anti-drug agency (DEA) and the intelligence agency (CIA) from the United States, as well as actors from Colombian Army.

Padrino also echoed these accusations.

“I say the imperial sewers of the CIA, the DEA, Even those who are here in the hands of Venezuelan traitors: we will not get tired of fighting the battle,” he expressed in the video.

Rocío San Miguel, military expert and frequent critic of the government, irregularities found in the act of degradation and expulsion, which took place in the Courtyard of Honor of the Ministry.

He explained that the measures are “ancillary sanctions” to the main punishment, which must be public. “They are subject to judicial control and the provisions established in the Organic Code of Military Justice must be respected,” he insisted in a note from his NGO Citizen Control.

“There are several aspects they are unknown on these expulsions and demotions of military personnel.”

The United States, for its part, is “deeply concerned” by the latest arrests, according to the White House they were made with “hardly credible” motivations.

“THE arrests without due process “They go against the spirit of the October 2023 election roadmap agreement,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

It refers to what was signed the opposition and the Venezuelan government to Barbados to celebrate the presidential elections in the second half of this year under international observation. In exchange, Washington eased a strict embargo on Venezuelan crude oil.

Venezuela “categorically” rejected it. the “cynic” communicatesO. “The government of the United States of America has lost its moral compass” by condemning “Venezuela for taking actions (…) to preserve the peace.”

“It is not surprising that Washington sides with the architects of the frustrated terrorist operations in Venezuela and even provides them with its position as an accomplice,” he added. “Defending these destabilizing actions encourages violence and threatens the normal development of the 2024 electoral process.”