Congressman Sires Condemns the Capture, Torture, and Killing of Venezuelan Naval Officer

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Sires, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, released the following statement regarding the death of Capitán de Corbeta Rafael Acosta Arévalo, Venezuelan Naval Officer captured and tortured by the Maduro regime:

“The Maduro regime continues flouting Venezuelans’ human rights with impunity. This time, Maduro went as far as capturing Capitán de Corbeta Rafael Acosta Arévalo, on the very day the dictator met with the United Nations’ human rights commissioner. Maduro’s thugs detained the naval officer on the fabricated charge of plotting to overthrow the regime and tortured him so brutally that he died in days, after begging his legal team for help. Today, I send my deepest condolences to his wife, Waleska Perez, and promise that I will continue to stand with the people of Venezuela as they fight for freedom and democracy in their country.”

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