Venezuelan Activist Carlos Julio Rojas Detained Amid Alleged Assassination Plot

Venezuelan activist and journalist Carlos Julio Rojas has been detained by authorities for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced on Monday that Rojas was arrested and identified as an "instigator and logistics operator" in the March 25 assassination attempt against Maduro.

According to Saab, Rojas provided instructions to two other detainees, Jerry Ostos Perdomo and Carlos Eduardo Castillo, on how to carry out the attack during a pro-government rally. The detainees confessed that Rojas, who has a criminal record, trained them on making Molotov cocktails and using firearms. The plan was to infiltrate the rally, shoot into the air and at some people to create chaos, and then flee to Trinidad and Tobago.

Rojas allegedly told the detainees that the goal was to generate a false sense of weakness that could be used by the international media to pressure for the participation of opposition leader María Corina Machado in the upcoming elections. Machado's candidacy has been blocked by the government, along with that of her substitute Corina Yoris.

The activist, known for campaigning against the government and organizing peaceful demonstrations, will be charged with association, terrorism, conspiracy, instigation to commit a crime, and attempted assassination. His arrest is the latest in a series of detentions targeting opposition members, journalists, and critics of the Maduro regime ahead of the July 28 presidential elections.

Why this matters: The detention of Carlos Julio Rojas highlights the intensifying crackdown on opposition figures by the Venezuelan government as the country prepares for elections. The arrest raises concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, with the opposition coalition denouncing obstacles to their participation.

The Coalition of Democratic Unity (Coalición) is now seeking a precautionary measure from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in response to Rojas' detention.

Key Takeaways

• Venezuelan activist Carlos Julio Rojas arrested for alleged role in Maduro assassination plot
• Rojas accused of training others on making Molotov cocktails and using firearms for attack
• Arrest part of crackdown on opposition figures ahead of July 28 presidential elections
• Opposition coalition seeking precautionary measure from IACHR over Rojas' detention
• US threatens to reimpose sanctions if Venezuela does not commit to free and fair elections