Ronald Ojeda Moreno, who served as a lieutenant in the Venezuelan army, dramatically escaped from Ramo Verde prison, situated on the outskirts of Caracas, in the year 2017. Following his daring escape, he sought refuge in Chile due to his strong opposition to the oppressive Chavista regime. Unfortunately, this Wednesday (21), Ojeda Moreno fell victim to a kidnapping operation carried out by military intelligence agents working under the ruthless dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. This shocking incident was reported by the brave individuals within the Venezuelan opposition who continue to resist Maduro’s regime.
Iván Simonovis, a former political prisoner and the former security commissioner of Juan Guaidó’s interim government, revealed that the kidnapping was a highly planned operation. In the early hours of Wednesday, operatives from the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), in a bold violation of international law, infiltrated Chilean territory. Disguising themselves as immigration officials, they managed to capture Ojeda Moreno, who was already under the watchful eye of the Chavista regime. Confirming the worst fears, the soldier’s family reported his sudden disappearance to the authorities. Consequently, the Chilean authorities initiated a manhunt to locate and rescue Ojeda Moreno.
It is worth noting that Ojeda Moreno was granted political asylum by the government of Gabriel Boric towards the end of 2023. Prior to this, in 2022, he had staged a protest directly in front of the Presidential Palace of Chile. During this demonstration, he passionately appealed for the release of political prisoners languishing in Venezuelan jails and called for an end to the ongoing negotiations between the opposition and the Chavista regime.
Ojeda Moreno was unceremoniously expelled from the Venezuelan Armed Forces without a fair trial. He was accused of treachery and allegedly participating in a plot to assassinate Maduro. Despite the lack of substantial evidence, these accusations were enough to mark him as an enemy in the eyes of the regime.
The troubling abduction of Ojeda Moreno comes at a time when the Venezuelan regime has intensified its persecution of political dissidents. This is particularly significant as presidential elections are due to be held in the South American country this year. However, the main opposition candidate, María Corina Machado, has been effectively blocked from her candidacy by the Chavista regime.
In a further display of its authoritarian tendencies, the regime has even expelled the United Nations mission that was operating within the national territory. This move effectively prevents any form of independent monitoring of the human rights situation in Venezuela. The DGCIM, in particular, has been identified as one of the main security bodies of the regime responsible for countless crimes against humanity in Venezuela, including torture, executions and forced disappearances.
