IACHR grants precautionary measures in favor Eleanger David Navas Vidal, in Venezuela

September 3, 2024

Washington, D.C.- On September 2, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights adopted Resolution 62/2024, to grant precautionary measures in favor of Eleanger David Navas Vidal after considering that he is at serious and urgent risk of irreparable harm to his rights in Venezuela.

The applicants informed that Eleanger David Navas Vidal is community manager of the newspaper Oriental, which has an editorial line contrary to the government of Venezuela. On August 3, 2024, the beneficiary was deprived of his liberty by members of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) and was transferred to the PNB command in that city.

On August 7, 2024, the court allegedly charged him with crimes defined under the Organic Law Against Terrorism and imposed a preventive detention measure for 45 days. As evidence, it was stated that the proposed beneficiary is the community manager of the Instagram account of the newspaper Oriental. The applicants questioned the detention and described it as arbitrary.

His family members were informed that Eleanger David was transferred to Yare prison on August 26, 2024. However, at that location, they were informed that the beneficiary was not being held there. To date, the proposed beneficiary's whereabouts are unknown. Despite the fact that his relatives tried to file a complaint for forced disappearance, the officials in charge reportedly refused to receive it. The Commission did not receive information from the Venezuelan State.

At the time of analyzing the request, the Commission emphasized that, in addition to the current situation in Venezuela, the arrest and subsequent lack of information about the beneficiary's whereabouts are closely linked to his role as community manager of the Instagram account for a newspaper with an editorial line that is not aligned with the current Venezuelan government. The Commission identified that the beneficiary's whereabouts have been unknown since August 26, 2024. In addition, his family members have not been able to obtain official information about his current whereabouts despite the search actions carried out. They are also reportedly unable to contact the beneficiary and have not received any information about actions taken by the assigned public defender.

Upon analyzing the submissions of fact and law furnished by the applicants, the Commission considers that the proposed beneficiary is in a serious and urgent situation, given that his current location is unknown to date. Therefore, pursuant to Article 25 of its Rules of Procedure, it requests that Venezuela:

1. adopt the necessary measures to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of Eleanger David Navas Vidal. In particular, among others, the applicants request that the authorities indicate the detention center where the proposed beneficiary is currently held and clarify his legal situation; allow access and contact with his relatives and trusted attorneys; specify the actions the public defender has taken in favor of the proposed beneficiary; detail whether his current situation has been subject to judicial review; report on the detention conditions in which he is held; and
2. report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure, so as to prevent such events from reoccurring.

The granting of this precautionary measure and its adoption by the State of Venezuela do not constitute prejudgment of any petition eventually filed before the inter-American system regarding a possible violation of the rights protected in the applicable instruments.

A principal and autonomous body of the OAS, the Commission derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is composed of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 205/24

5:30 PM