Venezuelan Opposition Leader Alfredo Díaz Dies in State Custody at El Helicoide; Rights Groups Demand Independent Probe

Alfredo Díaz, a 56-year-old Venezuelan opposition leader and former governor of Nueva Esparta, died while detained at the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) headquarters known as El Helicoide, activists and his political party said.

Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader, said in a statement that Díaz died Saturday at El Helicoide. Venezuela's Ministry of Penitentiary Services said Díaz suffered a heart attack. According to the ministry, at about 6:33 a.m. local time Díaz reported "symptoms compatible with a myocardial infarction" and was taken for emergency treatment; he died minutes after being admitted to the University Hospital of Caracas.

Calls For Independent Investigation

Gonzalo Himiob Santome, a Venezuelan lawyer and founding member of the NGO Foro Penal, confirmed on X that Díaz's family had been notified. Himiob warned that, under the United Nations' Minnesota Protocol — the authoritative standard for investigating potentially unlawful deaths in custody — Díaz's death could be unlawful and "must be investigated in an objective and impartial manner."

Foro Penal, Human Rights Watch and Díaz's party, Acción Democrática, have called for a transparent, independent inquiry into the circumstances of his death, citing concerns about detention conditions and access to medical care.

Detention, Charges and Allegations

Human Rights Watch reported that Díaz was detained on Nov. 24, 2024, after SEBIN officers removed him from a bus bound for Colombia. Authorities had charged him with incitement to hatred, financing of terrorism and criminal association. His party and rights organizations say he was denied due process and kept under conditions that violated his fundamental rights.

According to Human Rights Watch, Díaz had been denied visitors and phone calls during his detention. Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, said Díaz received only one visit during his time in custody — a visit from his daughter. "It's outrageous! The state is responsible for the health of the person under its custody," Romero said.

Allegations of a Pattern

Maria Corina Machado noted that Díaz is the seventh political prisoner to die in Venezuelan custody since July 28, 2024. She and other opposition figures say the deaths reflect a pattern of alleged state repression, pointing to denial of medical care, poor detention conditions, isolation and reports of mistreatment.

U.S. State Department: "The death of Venezuelan political prisoner Alfredo Díaz, who was arbitrarily detained in Maduro's detention center of El Helicoide, is yet another reminder of the vile nature of the criminal Maduro regime."

Regional Context

Díaz's death comes amid rising regional tensions. A U.S. military buildup near Venezuela has raised concerns about potential pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government. Reports also said former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Maduro recently in a conversation that reportedly included demands for Maduro's resignation and discussions of amnesty.

Rights groups and legal experts continue to press for an independent, impartial investigation that follows international standards, including forensic and procedural transparency, to determine whether Díaz's death was the result of natural causes, negligence or other factors while in state custody.