University of Bristol graduate kidnapped and ‘tortured’ in Venezuela

A University of Bristol graduate is claiming to have been kidnapped and subsequently “tortured” in Venezuela.

Friends and family of Jesús Armas declared that he was forcibly disappeared by government troops on December 10th in the capital, Caracas.

An international campaign has been launched calling for Jesús’ release.

Since graduating from University of Bristol with a Masters in public policy in 2020, Jesús has become a prominent figure in the resistance movement against Nicolas Maduro, the authoritarian leader of his home country Venezuela who has been in power since 2013.

Jesús played an important role in the campaign during the last election in July, as many claimed that Nicolas Maduro won the elections this July through a rigged system, including his opponents.

Emma Revell, external affairs director at the Centre for Policy Studies and a former colleague of Jesús’, claimed that after a period of hiding, “six masked men forced Jesús into a silver car and drove away.”

Former CNN editor Annabel Deegan said that “Armas is a longtime defender of freedom and democracy and a personal friend.”

She alleged: “We now know Armas is being held at El Helicoide, a well-known torture centre in Caracas under custody of the SEBIN, Venezuela’s political police.

“Jesús has previously written from hiding about the repression in Venezuela including the imprisonment of campaigners. Opposition activists have collected evidence that proves Edmundo González was elected,” she added.

Jesús had pursued his postgraduate degree under a Chevening Fellowship from the McCain Institute, as well as being an Obama Foundation scholar. Outside of class, he was active in Bristol’s Politics society.

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He had worked for the city council of Caracas for five years, and was head of the organisation Ciudadania Sin Limites. At the time of disappearance, he was teaching at the Central University of Venezuela. After the events, his students protested through a message on their class blackboard calling for their professor’s freedom.

Before the last elections, over 2,000 politicians, journalists and protesters had said to have been detained. Since July, this has culminated in a wave of terror, no longer performed with any subtlety, and taking the form of violent arrests and disappearances.

The opponent of president Maduro in elections in July, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, fled the country and sought asylum in Spain, allegedly fearing for his safety.

Another opposition leader, Corina Machado, called for Armas to be released via X. In a post, she claimed the politician “was kidnapped tonight by agents of the regime,” adding: “We will not rest until we free him and all Venezuelans.”

Featured image via Instagram @jesusarmasccs