The Venezuelan opposition figure Fernando Martínez Mottola, who had remained sheltered in the residence of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas from March to December 2024, passed away this Wednesday in Venezuela. With deep sorrow, his colleagues remembered him as a dedicated defender of democracy in Venezuela.
Martínez Mottola, an Electrical Engineer graduated from Simón Bolívar University, risked his life by actively collaborating in the fight to restore democracy in Venezuela, facing the challenges arising from the political repression that has intensified in recent years in the country.
The Opposition Party Voluntad Popular expressed its grief over the loss of Martínez Mottola, highlighting his commitment to public service and the defense of democracy. Currently, five collaborators of the opposition leader María Corina Machado remain sheltered in the Argentine Embassy, facing extreme conditions of torture.
Human rights organizations have denounced these systematic violations and have urged the international community to act urgently to protect those who fight for democracy in Venezuela. Fernando Martínez Mottola also participated as an advisor in the opposition negotiation processes in the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), the largest anti-Chavista coalition.
The death of Martínez Mottola comes at a time when repression by Nicolás Maduro's regime has been increasing, reflecting the serious human rights situation in the Latin American country.
