The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, emphasized that dialogue diplomacy was fundamental to the rescue of the 252 Venezuelans kidnapped in El Salvador. During an interview marking the 20th anniversary of Telesur, Maduro stated that the strategy combined public denunciation, social mobilization, and international pressure, avoiding direct negotiations with the government of Nayib Bukele, whom he called a Nazi clown.
The president revealed that the operation had the support of social movements, human rights organizations, and Salvadoran lawyers who filed appeals before the Supreme Court: «It was a movement of public opinion; with the truth, we achieved justice,» he asserted, denouncing the fact that the Venezuelans suffered humiliation, torture, and even rape at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
The Venezuelan president held Bukele directly responsible for the systematic violations at the CECOT (Central American Territory of Coalition for the Protection of Indigenous Peoples), where—according to testimonies—more than 427 people have died or been mutilated: «It’s a global scandal. Young people have been released in a vegetative state, and there are thousands of unrecorded deaths,» he denounced, accusing the Salvadoran government of covering up crimes.
He assured that Venezuela will not cease its fight for justice: «Just as we rescued them, we will stand with them so that this barbarity is punished.» President Maduro warned that Bukele «will pay sooner rather than later» for the torture, backed by evidence gathered by international organizations.
The release of the Venezuelans exposed the conditions at the CECOT to the world, which the head of state described as an extermination center. Testimonies reveal daily beatings, extreme sadism, and a pattern of government-orchestrated violence, which has generated global condemnation.
The Venezuelan president closed with a call to the international community: «In the name of God, there will be justice.» His government promises to continue documenting the crimes and bringing them before international courts, while demanding sanctions against Bukele for crimes against humanity.