former Chávez Minister Rodrigo Cabezas Detained in Venezuela
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The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners reports the arrest of
Rodrigo Cabezas, a former finance minister and vocal critic of the Maduro
government.
By Amelia Garcia | CARACAS – 2025/06/13 06:03:45
The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners denounced the arrest of
Rodrigo Cabezas, former Minister of Finance during the government of Hugo
Chávez, by Sebin agents in Maracaibo | Photo: Archive
The arrest of Rodrigo Cabezas, who served as Minister of Finance under Hugo
Chávez, has been condemned by the Committee for the Freedom of Political
Prisoners. Agents of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) reportedly
detained him in Maracaibo, Zulia State, on Thursday.
According to a statement released on X, the association stated that sources
indicated the power was cut at Cabezas’ residence prior to his arrest. He
was then instructed to go to the Corpoelec (Electric Corporation) offices in
Las Delicias, Maracaibo, where he was taken into custody upon arrival.
The organization added that the former minister was able to briefly report
his arrest by telephone before the call was disconnected.
The Committee asserts that “their arrest represents a serious violation of
their essential rights and reflects the growing persecution against
dissident voices in the country.”
Concerns Over Due Process and Rights
The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners is calling on the
venezuelan State to ensure the safety and well-being of the former official.They are also demanding his right to communicate with family and legal
counsel, as well as full respect for due process as guaranteed by the
Constitution and international human rights treaties.
“We demand its immediate release,respect for its fundamental guarantees and
the cessation of the criminalization of critical thinking in Venezuela,” the
organization stated.
“Their arrest represents a serious violation of their fundamental rights and
reflects the growing persecution against dissident voices in the country.”
Cabezas’ History and Political Views
Rodrigo Cabezas is a professor at the school of Economics of the University
of Zulia (Luz) and a member of the Human Zulia Movement. He served as
Minister of Finance from 2007 to 2008 and was a member of the National
Directorate of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) untill 2017.
As then, he has become an outspoken critic of Nicolás Maduro’s
administration.
Cabezas supported the presidential candidacy of edmundo González urrutia in
the recent elections.
