In brief
The assassination of Ronald Ojeda, a Venezuelan dissident found dead in Chile, is suspected to be ordered by Nicolás Maduro's regime, signaling a dangerous escalation in his quest for power.
Early on a February morning in 2024, Ronald Ojeda, a Venezuelan dissident living in exile in Chile, was forcibly taken from his apartment by three armed men masquerading as police officers. Despite being under asylum protection, his attempts to organize an overthrow of Nicolás Maduro seemed to have made him a target. Following the abduction, his wife alerted local authorities, noting the captors' Venezuelan accents. Nine days later, a gruesome discovery was made as a tip led Chilean police to uncover Ojeda's body hidden in a suitcase buried under concrete in a remote location. Authorities have now indicated that evidence points to the involvement of Maduro's government in this assassination. If substantiated, this act signifies a worrying escalation in Maduro's campaign against his opponents, suggesting that no one, even those in asylum, is safe from his reach. While Maduro's regime has denied involvement, these developments emerge as diplomatic talks between the US and Venezuela intensify, complicating the situation for Venezuelan refugees globally.
