Two Venezuelan lawyers, Maria Mercedes Berthé and Jesus Calma, denounced on Friday not knowing the whereabouts of their client, the former president of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and former vice-president of Nicolás Maduro, Tarek El Aissami. The lawyers said they have no information on where he is since his detention.
Tarek El Aissami was detained and accused of corruption. Venezuelan authorities have not publicly informed where the former official is being held nor provided details on the specific charges against him.
The lawyers expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the case and the absence of official information about their client's situation. This is not the first time that lawyers or family members of detainees in Venezuela have denounced not knowing the whereabouts of people imprisoned by the Maduro government.
Tarek El Aissami was vice president of Venezuela during Nicolás Maduro's term and also held the position of oil minister. His detention occurs in a context of anti-corruption investigations in the Venezuelan oil sector.