Venezuela has no political prisoners and operates under full rule of law, Foreign Minister Yván Gil stated during a working trip to Colombia, contradicting extensive documentation from international bodies and rights groups.

In an interview with Blu Radio, Gil dismissed allegations of political imprisonment, despite conflicting reports from the UN International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela and various NGOs, which suggest that over 1,900 individuals are incarcerated for political reasons, Efecto Cocuyo reported.

Gil's comments, made during his visit to Colombia on October 29 for the COP16 Climate Summit in Cali,  came in response to appeals from mothers of detained teenagers seeking their release, which he claimed have gone unanswered. 

He pointed out that Venezuela maintains a functioning rule of law, stating, “The Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ombudsman's Office are operational and working harmoniously."

The minister's claims starkly contrast with findings from rights watchdog Foro Penal, which has documented that Venezuelan authorities detained 68 teenagers during protests challenging the 28 July presidential election outcome.

Addressing these elections, Gil defended the National Electoral Council's (CNE) disputed declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner of his third term. 

This announcement, however, contradicts claims from the opposition, which published 83.5% of the voting records independently collected at polling, proving that their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, actually won the election. 

Gil asserted that “the people of Venezuela” determine election outcomes through the CNE, slamming the opposition for "not recognising any elections in the past 25 years."

As of October 28, three months post-election, the CNE has yet to publish detailed voting results or official documentation of the electoral process, despite multiple calls from regional and international actors. Meanwhile, Gonzalez Urrutia was forced to flee to Spain in September to avoid prosecution on trumped-up "terrorism" charges.

A recent report from the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela accuses the government of Nicolás Maduro of committing widespread human rights abuses, including crimes against humanity, before, during, and after the contentious July 28 presidential elections. 

The 158-page report, which covers the period from September 2023 to August 2024, paints a grim picture of systematic persecution, targeting opposition figures and civilians protesting the election results.

The report alleges that security forces, along with pro-government armed groups, were responsible for a range of serious violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual violence.