Foreign Ministry: Czech national held in Venezuela believed to be alive

The Czech Foreign Ministry has said it has been unable to secure consular contact with the Czech national who was arrested in Venezuela more than seven months ago on suspicion of plotting to destabilize the country. The ministry said that the Venezuelan authorities have repeatedly rejected consular requests for him to be allowed a visit by a diplomat or lawyer, despite the fact that he should have the right to such a contact under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However, according to the ministry’s spokesperson Daniel Drake the ministry knows from unofficial sources that he is alive.

The Czech man was arrested together with three American citizens and two Spaniards on suspicion of plotting to destabilize the country through "violent actions”. The Czech Foreign Ministry has protested against the arrest, saying that the evidence presented by the Venezuelan authorities is highly questionable. The detensions came amid a deepening standoff between President Nicolás Maduro and Western powers.