Brasília, Brazil - January 11, 2025 Brazil on Saturday expressed its "great concern" over "reports of human rights violations by opponents" of the Venezuelan regime, one day after the inauguration of Nicolás Maduro for a third term. "Although we recognize the gestures of détente by the Maduro government, such as the release of 1,500 detainees in recent months (...), the Brazilian government deplores the recent episodes of arrests, threats and persecution of political opponents," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Maduro's reelection last July is questioned by the opposition, which denounced fraud in the elections and claimed the victory of its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who was later forced into exile. Brazil has not officially recognized Maduro's victory and requested that the minutes of the elections be presented, which have never been made public. However, the government of leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent its ambassador to Caracas to the inauguration of the Chavista leader.