Editing Nicolás Maduro (section)

===Human rights abuses===
Venezuela's regime, led by Nicolás Maduro, has systematically violated the human rights and dignity of its citizens, has looted the country's natural resources, and led a nation that was once prosperous to economic ruin with its authoritarian government and socialist economic policies.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2019/2/1/what-brought-venezuelas-economy-to-ruin What brought Venezuela’s economy to ruin?], ''Al Jazeera''</ref><ref>[https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/the-maduro-regimes-illicit-activities-a-threat-to-democracy-in-venezuela-and-security-in-latin-america/ The Maduro Regime’s Illicit Activities: A Threat to Democracy in Venezuela and Security in Latin America], ''Atlantic Council''</ref><ref name=Maduro>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190516130230/https://www.state.gov/nicolas-maduro-corruption-and-chaos-in-venezuela/ Nicolas Maduro: Corruption and Chaos in Venezuela], U.S. State Department</ref>

Maduro's thugs have committed extrajudicial killings and torture, have taken political prisoners and severely restricted freedom of expression, all in a brutal effort to retain power.<ref name=Bachelet>[https://www.france24.com/en/20190705-venezuela-united-nations-report-michelle-bachelet-human-rights UN report cites 'shockingly high' number of likely 'executions' in Venezuela], ''France 24''</ref>

In 2015, opposition parties in favor of democracy flatly defeated the Maduro regime in the legislative elections. Shortly after, Maduro began dismantling several branches of government. The outgoing President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, hastened to fill the country's courts with unskilled fans of the party to serve as guarantors of Maduro's power.
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