Washington D.C. — This week marks six months since the arbitrary detention of Venezuelan human rights defender and civil society leader Jesús Armas. The McCain Institute is part of a broad coalition of national and international organizations coming together to demand his immediate and unconditional release and to denounce the ongoing criminalization of opposition and human rights defenders in Venezuela.
Jesús Armas, a McCain Global Leader and Obama Fellow, was detained on December 10, 2024, on politically motivated charges that lack any credible legal basis. Since then, he has been held in conditions that violate basic human rights, including limited access to his partner and family, legal representation of his choosing, and access to adequate medical care.
“Jesús Armas has dedicated his life to promoting transparency, justice, and democratic values in Venezuela. His arbitrary arrest and continued detention is an attack on the entire human rights and democracy movement in the country,” said Pedro Pizano, Assistant Director of the John McCain Freedom for Political Prisoners Initiative at the McCain Institute. “He must be released unconditionally. In the meanwhile, charges before an impartial and independent judge must be brought—none exist in Venezuela anymore—, access to his lawyers and family members must be granted, and urgent medical care must be immediately provided.”
“On December 31, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favor of Jesús Armas, recognizing the serious and urgent risk to his life and personal integrity. The IACHR called on the Venezuelan authorities to protect his rights and ensure his well-being—yet no meaningful action has been taken to comply with these measures,” said Génesis Dávila, one of Jesús’ International Lawyers.
“Jesús is an invaluable member of the McCain Global Leaders community and is an embodiment of what it means to put service above self. His strength, courage, and resilience shine through in his presence and the work he has done to fight for a free, safe, and just Venezuela. We call for his immediate release,” said Scott Nemeth, Assistant Director of Leadership Programs at the McCain Institute.
“Jesús’s continued imprisonment is a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who speak truth to power. We, the McCain Global Leaders, stand in unwavering solidarity with his partner and family, calling for his immediate release. Jesús’s courage and resilience inspires us deeply – his freedom is non-negotiable,” said Marilena Stegbauer, 2023 McCain Global Leader.
“The world knows Jesús as a human rights defender, social leader, professor and activist but we know him as a friend. We’ve shared laughs, we’ve shared struggles, and we know as well as anyone the level of bravery it has taken to continue to fight for the people and causes he loves in the face of immense risk. May his bravery inspire us all to continue to demand due process, respect of his human rights and his immediate release,” said Amanda Lee, 2022 Obama Foundation Scholar.
We, the undersigned, call on the Venezuelan authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Jesús Armas and drop all charges against him.
- Fully implement the precautionary measures granted by the IACHR, ensuring his protection and dignity.
- Guarantee his access to family, legal counsel, and medical attention.
- End the repression of human rights defenders, dissidents, democrats, and respect freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
We also urge the international community, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and democratic governments, to publicly support calls for his release and increase pressure on Venezuelan authorities to stop targeting civil society actors.
“Jesús Armas’s case is not isolated—it reflects a broader effort to silence those who speak out for justice and accountability”, said Sairam Rivas, his partner and the leader of CLIPVE which defends all political prisoners in Venezuela, demands their release, and support them and their families while they’re in prison. “His freedom is essential not only for him, but for the future of civic space in Venezuela.”
Contact:
McCain Institute Press
[email protected]
202-601-4296
To endorse this statement:
Signatories:
Jesus’ 2023 McCain Global Leaders Cohort
Andrea María Reyes (Guatemala)
Marilena Stegbauer (Germany)
Lu Argueta (El Salvador)
Tatiana Torres (Colombia)
Jesus’ 2022-2023 Obama Foundation Scholars Cohort
Amanda Lee
Jackson Rowland
Heena Mohammed
Mustika Wijaya
Dinara Auyelbekova
Allison Benson-Hernandez
Lilian Nakigozi
Teresa Buckowska
Josue De Paz
Wael Habbal
Amna Akhtar
Olamide Babatunde
Ben Harris
Karem Musked
Orlando Mayorga
DeKevious Wilson
Nishit Shukla
Linda Flor Brito
Chris Akel
Jesus’ 2022 Stanford Fisher Family Fellows Cohort Members:
Gabriel Reyes Silva
Geline Alfred Fuko (Tanzania)
2024-2025 Obama Foundation Scholars Cohort
Members of the Inaugural Obama Foundation Scholars Cohort:
Juan Carlos Monterrey (Panama)
Hong Hoang (Vietnam)
Vanessa Paranjothy (Singapore)
Mario Mazic (Croatia)
Trisha Shetty (India)
Kimberly Brown (USA)
Alice Barbe (France)
Ana Maria Gonzalez Forero (Colombia)
Chevening Alumni
Chevening Alumni Association Colombia
Angel Blanco Sorio (Venezuela, 2010)
Daniela Guerra (Venezuela, 2018)
Samuel Espinoza (Venezuela, 2023)
Harold Miñarro Escalona (Venezuela, 2021)
Giorgio Cunto Morales (Venezuela, 2023)
Juan Leopoldo Martínez (Venezuela, 2016)
María Valentina González (Venezuela, 2021)
Roxanne Cabrera (Venezuela, 2023)
Samuel Díaz (Venezuela, 2020)
Organizations:
Latin American Youth Network for Democracy (Juventud LAC)
Vente Venezuela (Venezuela)
Alianza de Mujeres Políticas (Venezuela)
Alianza Universitaria Nicaragüense – AUN (Nicaragua)
Foro Juventudes (Nicaragua)
Acción Universitaria de Nicaragua (Nicaragua)
Jóvenes Activando Xela (Guatemala)
Estudios Socialcristianos del Perú (Peru)
Juventude do Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (Brazil)
Juventud, Política y Desarrollo – JPD (Peru)
Libertank (Colombia)
Individual Signatories:
Yunier Suárez (Cuba)
Adolfo Cortezao (Venezuela)
Yunova Acosta (Nicaragua)
Camila Gonzalez Rodriguez (Chile)
Juan Carlos Vargas (Chile)
Zuleika Meneses G. (Venezuela)
José Ernesto Hernández (Venezuela)
Jesús Mauricio Pahuara Arango (Perú)
Mahycol Linarez (Venezuela)
José Rodrigo Sandoval (Guatemala)
Gonzalo Mujica (Peru)
Ryco Daniel de Oliveira Lima (Brazil)
Adolfo Flores Padrón (Venezuela)
Tien Trung Nguyen (Germany)
Natalia Herbst (Argentina)
Daria Minsky (Belarus)
Edward Perez (Venezuela)