Venezuela: Maria Corina Machado's security chief arrested

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Wednesday denounced the arrest of her security chief 11 days before the July 28 presidential election, adding to the arrest of hundreds of other members of her team so far this year.

This is Milciades Ávila, a former police officer who has been in Machado’s service for 10 years, who “was kidnapped by the regime” and has been accused of “gender violence against women,” Machado wrote on the social network X.

“I am warning the world about Maduro’s escalating repression against those who work on the campaign or help us anywhere in the country,” he added.

Vente Venezuela, the opposition party, denounced that police officers “forcedly entered the house where (Ávila) was, violating all legal procedures.”

Machado says she and opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González were attacked by a group of female Chavista activists while they were at a sandwich shop in La Victoria (north-central), returning from a campaign rally.

The women were trying to heckle González, Machado and their team, according to videos posted on social media. The mayor of that city later decorated them and the establishment was closed down like many others that have served the opposition leader.

“This act was a planned provocation to leave us without protection 11 days before July 28. Maduro has made violence and repression his campaign,” Machado added.

Three days ago, the opposition reported nine more arrests in four states of the country. The NGO Foro Penal, dedicated to the defense of political prisoners, reported on Tuesday that they have counted 102 arrests linked to the opposition campaign.

Maduro, who is seeking a third six-year term, often insists the opposition is plotting to overthrow him.