In a troubling development, the son-in-law of self-exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González was kidnapped on Tuesday in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. The incident occurred while Rafael Tudares was on his way to drop off González’s two young grandchildren at school.
González, who is currently in the United States, reported that Tudares was intercepted by hooded men dressed in black and forced into a gold-colored van. The fate of the grandchildren, aged 6 and 7, remains unknown.
The kidnapping took place despite heightened security measures in Caracas ahead of President Nicolás Maduro's upcoming swearing-in ceremony. The government has not yet responded to requests for comments on the incident.
González, a retired diplomat and opposition figure, left Venezuela for exile in Spain last year after being targeted in an election-related investigation. He has been touring various countries to garner support for his efforts to remove Maduro from power.
The Unitary Platform opposition coalition, to which González belongs, condemned Tudares' kidnapping as a politically motivated act. They demanded the immediate release of Tudares and all other political prisoners held by the regime.
Recent years have seen a decline in kidnappings in Venezuela, but the practice has resurfaced in connection with government actions against dissenters. The opposition claims that González won the presidential election last year, a result disputed by Maduro's administration.
International figures, including the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, have called for Tudares' release and criticized the Venezuelan government for its actions. The situation remains tense in Caracas, with reports of increased security measures and political unrest.
As the situation unfolds, concerns about political repression and human rights violations in Venezuela continue to draw international attention and condemnation.
