Albares discusses with the Venezuelan Foreign Minister the arrest of the Spanish-Venezuelan activist Rocío San Miguel

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has had a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil, to discuss the situation of the Spanish-Venezuelan activist and citizen Rocío San Miguel, whose arrest was disclosed on February 10th.

Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have indicated that Albares has shown interest in San Miguel’s situation.

Rocío San Miguel is a Human Rights activist with Spanish citizenship and is being accused of alleged crimes of treason, conspiracy, and terrorism.

San Miguel, who serves as the director of the NGO Citizen Control, was arrested along with five other individuals, four of whom are her family members. They are accused of allegedly being involved in a plan known as “White Bracelet” to attack Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro. San Miguel’s relatives have already been released.

The activist remains detained in the Helicoide, the detention center of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN). According to the NGO Provea, the authorities frequently use “forced disappearance” as a “common practice” within their extensive repressive repertoire.

Additionally, both ministers have discussed the situation of the United Nations High Commissioner’s office in Venezuela. This comes in reference to Caracas’ decision to expel the staff of the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), accusing them of “attacking the sovereignty and self-determination of the country with lies, falsifications, misinformation, and manipulations,” according to the sources consulted.

Venezuelan authorities have initiated a campaign of arrests following President Nicolás Maduro’s statement in January that authorities had dismantled four assassination attempts against him last year, which were allegedly planned from the United States and Colombia.