Human rights organizations told Congress on Wednesday that Venezuela's repressive institutions remain largely intact six months after Nicolás Maduro was removed from power, warning that officials linked to alleged crimes against humanity still hold senior posts and more than 500 political prisoners remain behind bars.
Testifying before the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, witnesses said limited political openings had not produced meaningful reform of the judiciary, intelligence services or security forces.
"There have been changes within the same power structure, but those changes have not meant a real transformation of power," said Laura Cristina Dib, Venezuela director at the Washington Office on Latin America, as quoted by The Miami Herald. "These changes need to be real and transformative, not just cosmetic changes."
Dib noted that Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello continues to oversee internal security forces, while other officials identified by United Nations investigators remain in positions of authority. Isabel Carlota Roby of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights said the government was "recycling people and changing their roles" while preserving the same chain of command.
"This is a regime that lives in a world of appearances," Roby said, arguing there was "no prospect for justice" while existing institutions continued to operate without independent oversight.
Martha Tineo of Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón said her organization had verified the release of 795 political prisoners since January, but most remained subject to judicial restrictions and at least 518 people were still imprisoned for political reasons.
Witnesses also warned that the June 24 earthquakes exposed years of institutional deterioration. Amnesty International previously said Venezuela's weakened health system, restrictions on the press and laws limiting civil society could obstruct relief efforts and worsen the country's humanitarian emergency. The organization also called out the local government's lack of transparency:
"Amnesty International calls on Venezuelan authorities to ensure the prompt, credible and regular disclosure of information regarding the extent of the damage, the number and characteristics of those killed or injured, the relief efforts being deployed, the assistance routes for those affected, and the contingency plan for searching for those missing, and rescuing and treating survivors"
Public anger has been growing over what survivors describe as a slow and disorganized response, as The Guardian reported on Tuesday. The official death toll had risen to 4,490 by July 12, with more victims expected to be recovered from collapsed buildings. Residents in parts of La Guaira said they were initially left to search for relatives with basic tools and their bare hands.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has defended the military-led response and dismissed criticism as foreign propaganda. Her warning that government critics "will be buried" drew further anger from families still awaiting the recovery of their relatives' bodies.
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