Venezuela: Pro-government marches planned nationwide August 13 /update 4

Event

On Wednesday, August 8, the president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), Diosdado Cabello, announced that "revolutionary forces" will march throughout the country on Monday, August 13, to promote national peace and to denounce the alleged assassination attempt of President Nicolás Maduro on August 4. Details regarding the time and location of the marches have not been reported as of Thursday, August 8. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are expected near all demonstration sites.

Context

Cabello also stated that the ANC has revoked parliamentary immunity for two deputies charged in connection with the attack. The government has identified 19 suspects allegedly connected to the incident, of which six have been detained.

The alleged assassination attempt on August 4 involved two drones, one of which supposedly dropped explosives onto a building near Maduro as he was giving a public address, according to the government. Maduro has blamed neighboring Colombia for the blast, which Bogotá has denied. Local firefighters have reportedly blamed the explosions on a gas leak, while the opposition has accused the Maduro administration of staging the incident, which left seven people injured, to justify a further crackdown on political dissidents and civil society.

Advice

Individuals in Caracas, and Venezuela more generally, are advised to strictly avoid all protests due to the risk of violence amid high sociopolitical tensions.