Venezuela using coronavirus as cover to crack down on dissent, report claims

Human Rights Watch says it has found a very, very disturbing' pattern of intimidation and persecution of government critics

Venezuelan security forces are using the coronavirus pandemic as cover to wage a disturbing full force" campaign against dissenters, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.

The New York-based human rights group said that dozens of journalists, health professionals, human rights lawyers and government opponents had been arbitrarily detained and prosecuted since President Nicolas Maduro declared a Covid-19 state of emergency in mid-March.