Venezuelan Government Issues Warning on Foreign Interference Amid Activist’s Release
The Venezuelan government has reiterated its warnings regarding foreign interference through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) following the conditional release of activist Martha Lía Grajales, co-founder of the collective Surgentes. She remains under judicial investigation for alleged incitement to hatred, conspiracy with a foreign government, and criminal association, reports 24brussels.
Authorities detained Grajales after her participation in a protest outside the United Nations office in Caracas, where she expressed support for the “Committee of Mothers for the Truth.” Officials allege that this group is part of a larger effort to manipulate public opinion and undermine national institutions in the wake of the 2024 presidential elections, which were marred by violent attacks on hospitals, schools, and public infrastructure.
President Nicolás Maduro has warned that certain NGOs disguise themselves as human rights defenders while receiving funds from the U.S. State Department and the CIA. “They wear the mask of the left, but they are financed by the gringos,” Maduro declared during a weekly broadcast, urging Venezuelans to stay alert to “fakes and infiltrators.”
Maduro also condemned attempts to fabricate a “false committee of mothers,” arguing that many individuals these organizations advocate for have participated in violent acts and destabilization campaigns.
Recent data from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) indicates a significant increase in funding for Venezuela, rising from $8 million in 2014 to $211 million in 2024, making it the sixth-largest recipient in the region. The Venezuelan government contends that these funds are utilized to bolster opposition networks and undermine national sovereignty under the pretense of humanitarian assistance and democracy promotion.
Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello identified Provea, Foro Penal, and Médicos Unidos por Venezuela as primary recipients of foreign financing, cautioning that these organizations operate as “multi-source entities” linked to narcotrafficking, foreign intelligence, and media manipulation.
Officials further assert that there is a coordinated media and legal campaign aimed at discrediting Venezuela’s judicial system. Statements from opposition figures like César Pérez Vivas, who labeled Grajales’ detention a “judicial farce,” are viewed as components of this strategy. Authorities argue that these narratives aim to erode public trust and justify foreign intervention.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Grajales was presented and charged within the legal timeframe, emphasizing that her constitutional rights were respected throughout the judicial process.
