Venezuela: Five Charged After Barinas Power Cut Protest
Five people were charged after a Barinas power cut protest in Venezuela. They are free but must report to a court every 20 days, a rights group says. The post Venezuela: Five Charged After Barinas Power Cut Protest appeared first on The Rio Times .
Five individuals were charged after a protest in Barinas, Venezuela, over prolonged power outages, according to a local human rights organization. The protest occurred on September 16, 2026, following a long blackout lasting more than 16 hours. The individuals, who are free but required to report to court every 20 days, were Jose Carrero, Freddy Daniel Perez Camacho, Denis Diaz, Maikel Perez, and Jose Coiran.
They were charged with three offenses: blocking a public road, public incitement, and criminal association, known as "agavillamiento". The prosecutor's office accused them of these charges, but the rights group, Fundehullan, which represents the protesters, denies the allegations, stating that asking for basic services like electricity is a constitutional right.
The power cuts have had a significant impact on businesses and residents in Barinas, leading to reduced sales, spoiled goods, and increased operational costs. The government attributes the outages to foreign sanctions, while opposition parties argue that corruption and poor maintenance are the primary causes. The case highlights the potential legal consequences of participating in street protests in Venezuela.
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