Martha LĂa Grajales, lawyer and human right activist. Photo: X/@Clippve.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Monday, the Venezuelan Attorney General’s Office confirmed the arrest of “activist” Martha Grajales and announced that she will face charges of “inciting hatred,” “conspiracy with a foreign government,” and “association.” Grajales is affiliated with the NGO Surgentes.
“Citizen Martha LĂa Grajales was charged, within the legal limits, following an arrest warrant, for actions against Venezuelan institutions and the republic’s peace,” the Public Ministry stated.
“The Prosecutor’s Office, as guarantor of justice and human rights, will ensure due process guarantees under the Constitution,” it concluded.
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Fellow Surgentes activist Antonio González Plessmann told EFE that Grajales was arrested Friday, August 8, at 4 p.m. local time after leaving a protest near the United Nations headquarters in Caracas. Witnesses confirmed that Bolivarian National Police (PNB) officers detained her at a newly installed checkpoint near Centro Plaza, meters from the protest site.
Grajales was among a group of women allegedly attacked by “collectivos” during a Tuesday vigil by the Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth. The group awaited a Supreme Court (TSJ) hearing to review detentions tied to violent protests against 2024 presidential election results.
Following Grajales’ arrest, organizations launched a social media campaign highlighting her case, including a letter signed by Venezuelan individuals and groups largely linked to the far-right opposition.
Chavista analysts reviewing the letter expressed concern over signatures from organizations and individuals tied to the far-right opposition or US imperialism, despite other respected signatories. US-funded PROVEA promoted the social media campaign alongside representatives of the old Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) and similar groups connected to far-right actors.
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Grassroots activists raised concerns that the arrest parallels the 2022 case of former PDVSA executives Alfredo Chirinos and Aryenis Torrealba. They were jailed for months—after denouncing corruption in PDVSA—on treason charges and released days after ex-Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami’s arrest in Venezuela’s worst corruption scandal. However, Grajales’ deep connection with far-right individuals and organizations is worrisome for many.
The case fits within Venezuelan government’s recent wider strategy to combat internal far-right, US-financed destabilization plots and preserve institutional legitimacy and peace. In recent months, officials and many Venezuelans stressed that existing legal mechanisms must be applied to counter threats against national stability.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SL
