The United States has sharply criticized the Venezuelan government following the death of opposition figure Alfredo Díaz in state custody, calling it a “reminder of the vile nature” of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Human rights organizations and opposition groups say Díaz died in his cell at the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas, where he had been held for over a year. The Venezuelan government claims the 56-year-old showed signs of a heart attack and was pronounced dead at a hospital on Saturday.
The U.S. intervention marks the latest escalation in a deepening confrontation between the Trump administration and Maduro, who has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change.
In recent months, the U.S. has expanded its military footprint in the region and conducted lethal strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug smuggling. President Donald Trump has personally accused Maduro of leading a major drug cartel—a charge the Venezuelan leader denies—and has threatened potential military intervention “by land.”
The death of Díaz has intensified international scrutiny of Maduro’s government and its treatment of political detainees, further straining already fractured diplomatic relations.
By James Kisoo
