Venezuelan political prisoner Victor Hugo Quero Navas dies; family disputes autopsy

Victor Hugo Quero Navas, a political prisoner detained at the Rodeo I prison in Caracas, died while in custody. An official exhumation on 8 May 2026 and subsequent autopsy concluded that the cause of death was a pulmonary thromboembolism, with no traumatic injuries identified. The Ministry of Public also confirmed the identity of the remains through DNA testing.

The family of Quero, represented by his brother Gabriel José Quero Navas, issued a public statement condemning the Ministry's report. They argued that the investigation omitted key facts about his arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance and possible responsibility of security officials. The relatives also accused the authorities of releasing forensic results without their consent, revictimising the family, and called for an independent investigation following international standards such as the Minnesota Protocol.