New coup attempt and ‘bloodbath’ foiled, according to Venezuelan government

On 26 June, the Venezuelan government revealed that it had foiled a renewed coup plot. The plan allegedly involved the assassination of the country’s elected president, Nicolás Maduro, and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials.

Coup plot

The Venezuelan government released video evidence of the alleged plot on 26 June during a press conference hosted by communications minister Jorge Rodríguez. According to Rodríguez, the government had been monitoring the plotters – who planned to act on 23 or 24 June – for over 14 months.

As Caracas-based independent news outlet Venezuelanalysis reported:

the [alleged] putsch involved seizing several arms depots, including one in the Venezuelan Central Bank, as well as storming La Carlota airbase in east Caracas and other military/police facilities, before advancing on [presidential palace] Miraflores.

In one of the videos, ex-airforce general Miguel Carmelo Sisco tells other alleged coup plotters:

The first goal is to capture [Maduro]. And have the world see it… Dead, so that the message is clear, this son of a bitch is done.

The communications minister also said that the government had over 56 hours of video evidence from seven separate opposition meetings.

Venezuelanalysis added that, although the plotters allegedly wished to edge out opposition leader Juan Guaidó:

Some of the published footage additionally shows the alleged conspirators discussing contact with self-proclaimed “Interim President” Juan Guaido, despite expressing doubts about his leadership.

Not the first time

This is not the first violent plot against the Venezuelan government over the past year. In fact, over recent months, Guaidó’s Popular Will party has led several failed coup attempts.

It is, however, probably the bloodiest plan yet. According to Rodríguez, the government seized “140,000 gun shells and other material”.

Maduro, meanwhile, claimed that the government had prevented a “bloodbath”, saying:

They talked about a killing spree that could last two or three days.

Featured image via screengrab/The Grayzone