Under the view of international observers, elections in Venezuela this weekend showed low levels of interference by armed groups or organized crime. Yet, isolated outbursts of violence by pro-government gangs remained in areas where a convergence of political power and criminal economies was under threat. Full Text -> InSightCrime

TRaducción de cortesía -> A juicio de los observadores internacionales, las elecciones en Venezuela de este fin de semana mostraron bajos niveles de injerencia de grupos armados o del crimen organizado. Sin embargo, persistieron estallidos aislados de violencia por parte de bandas progubernamentales en áreas donde la convergencia del poder político y las economías criminales estaba amenazada.

An increase in the number of reports of illegal invasions of homes and commercial establishments in Venezuela during the pandemic has revealed the ever-widening criminal portfolio managed by militant civilian groups known as “colectivos.” Full Text -> InsightCrime

The dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro mobilized this Thursday its Collectives -Irregular armed forces that respond to the regime- to suppress looting and demonstrations that take place in different states of Venezuela, as a consequence of the food and gasoline shortages that were already taking place in the Caribbean country but were exacerbated by the impact of the coronavirus. Full Text-> Explica

One of the reasons Venezuela’s authoritarian regime stays in power is its street enforcers – violent gangs known as colectivos. A new documentary, “Tupamaro: Urban Guerrillas,” examines the rise of the most powerful colectivo – and the film is even more relevant right now. By Tim Padgett . Full Text -> MLRN

 Socialist hardliners in Venezuela opened fire during a march headed by Juan Guaidó, injuring a 16-year-old demonstrator and adding to tensions in the country as the opposition leader seeks to revive his campaign to oust Nicolás Maduro.By AP. Full text-> WTMJ

Video of the Guaido’s vehicle

Power in Venezuela is slipping away from state institutions and concentrating in the hands of criminals, guerrillas and other non-state actors. Any new negotiations between government and opposition must consider how to defang these armed irregulars, who might otherwise scuttle an eventual settlement. By by International Crisis Group. Full text -> Havana Times / Full Report