How many opposition members are detained in Venezuela for protesting against the election results?

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Saturday that more than 2,000 people have been arrested in the country during protests against the results of the presidential election, in which the National Electoral Council declared his disputed victory.

“We have captured 2,000 prisoners and from there they will go to (the prisons of) Tocorón and Tocuyito, maximum punishment, justice. This time there will be no forgiveness, this time there will be Tocorón,” said Maduro in front of supporters who demonstrated in Caracas.

The president accused the detainees of committing “very serious” acts, including the alleged burning of polling stations and regional headquarters of the National Electoral Council. He promised “complete justice.”

“Everyone confesses, everyone, because there has been a strict legal process, led by the Attorney General’s Office, with full guarantees and everyone is convicted and confessed,” he added.

Maduro announced earlier this week his decision to transfer the detainees to the Tocorón and Tocuyito prisons, accusing them of participating in an attempted coup against him.

On the other hand, relatives of the detainees and various NGOs have denounced that the State is obstructing their access to private lawyers and contact with their loved ones, reported Efe.

The NGO Foro Penal reported that from Monday to Saturday afternoon, 939 arrests related to the protests have been recorded, including 90 minors, in addition to 11 civilian deaths and one soldier.

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