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Venezuelan human rights lawyer Omar Mora Tosta addressed the United Nations to call for the immediate and full release of Venezuela’s political prisoners and an end to the judicial persecution of dissidents.
Mora Tosta, a lawyer for Comando Con Venezuela who represents political detainees, denounced the use of terrorism courts against government opponents, the denial of due process and private legal counsel, and the discriminatory application of amnesty—including in the case of opposition lawyer Perkins Rocha.
His message to the international community: Venezuela’s transition to democracy requires the release of political prisoners, the restoration of fundamental rights, separation of powers, and justice for victims.
Transcript:
Vice-President of the Human Rights Council: Excellencies, we will continue with the report of the International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, and we continue with the list of speakers.
Omar Mora Tosta: Thank you, President.
I am Omar Mora Tosta, a lawyer with “Comando con Venezuela” and a defender of its political prisoners arbitrarily detained in the context of the 2024 elections.
In Venezuela, despite the events of January 3rd, the structure of repression remains intact.
To ensure a transition to democracy, there must be the immediate and full release of more than 400 imprisoned and persecuted politicians, civilians and soldiers.
Their lives are in immediate danger due to mistreatment and conditions of imprisonment to which they have been subjected.
Unfortunately, many of them have died.
Ad hoc terrorism courts were illegally created by proclamation and not by law.
In them, they prosecute dissidents for political reasons, enforcing unconstitutional laws that should be repealed to restore human rights.
Even today in those ongoing processes, private legal defense is denied, as well as access to expediency, and hearings are held virtually that violate due process and the right to defense.
All of this is akin to treating them as criminal foreign enemies.
Amnesty was promoted without fulfilling proper standards and applied discriminatorily as in the case of lawyer Perkins Rocha and the campaign chiefs of the opposition.
The international community must seek the separation of powers in Venezuela, since with impunity and without justice to the victims, we will not move forward as a society.
Transcripción:
Vicepresidente del Consejo de Derechos Humanos: Excelencias, vamos a seguir con el informe de la Misión Internacional Independiente de Determinación de los Hechos sobre Venezuela, y seguimos con la lista de oradores.
Omar Mora Tosta: Gracias, señor presidente.
Soy Omar Mora Tosta, abogado del Comando con Venezuela y defensor de sus presos políticos detenidos arbitrariamente en el marco de las elecciones de 2024.
En Venezuela, a pesar del 3 de enero, la estructura represiva continúa intacta.
Para garantizar una transición a la democracia deben ser liberados de inmediato y plenamente los más de 400 presos y perseguidos políticos, civiles y militares, cuyas vidas corren peligro en virtud de los maltratos y condiciones de reclusión a los que han sido sometidos.
Lamentablemente, muchos de ellos han fallecido.
Fueron creados ilegalmente tribunales ad hoc de terrorismo por resolución y no por una ley. En ellos se procesa a disidentes por motivos políticos, aplicando leyes inconstitucionales que deben ser derogadas para restituir los derechos humanos.
Aún al día de hoy, en esos procesos en curso se niega la defensa privada, el acceso al expediente, y se realizan audiencias telemáticas que violan el debido proceso y el derecho a la defensa. Todo ello equiparable al derecho penal del enemigo.
Fue promovida la amnistía sin cumplir los estándares y aplicada discriminatoriamente, como en los casos del abogado Perkins Rocha y los jefes de campaña de la oposición.
La comunidad internacional debe procurar la separación de poderes en Venezuela, ya que con impunidad y sin justicia para las víctimas no avanzaremos como sociedad.
