The protesters in Stockholm, the hope of democracy, but fears more violence

There are three are a little tired, shocked, but also hopeful defenders DN meet at a hotel in Stockholm on Thursday. Active as a defender of human rights, they are here to do a course in security arranged by the human rights organisation Civil Rights Defenders.

they have finkammat news from their home country, where Juan Guaidó, speaker of the national assembly, named himself as president. At the same time continue Nicloás Maduro, who was re-elected in 2018 in a choice of the majority condemns as rigged, claiming that he is the president. And just as during the protests, 2017, Maduro responded with violence, so far at least 16 people died.

Read more: Large parts of the world, Juan Guaidó their support

Now follow the tense of what happens. They believe that Juan Guaidó have the law on their side, because the elections in 2018 to be recognized as free and fair.

– But at the same time, we have another illegitimate president, Maduro, who still have the control over Venezuelan institutions and national forces. Therefore, we expect continued violence in the coming days. Maduro is acting just as the protests two years ago: with repression, military violence and the imprisonment of people, " says Genesis Davila.

Image 1 of 3 Genesis Davila. Photo: Adam Daver Slide 2 of 3 Mario D'Andrea. Photo: Adam Daver Slide 3 of 3 Carlos Briceño. Photo: Adam Daver Slideshow

Defiende Venezuela and is in Sweden with the company of the two lawyers, Carlos Briceño and Mario D'Andrea.

The notes that the situation is extremely complex. Themselves oscillate between feeling horror and hope.

" I am afraid and hopeful. Hopeful that this could be the beginning of democracy in Venezuela. Afraid that it could be the beginning of a new wave of violence and human rights violations. It is a complex situation, "says Mario D'Andrea.

live the three on their guard. Maduro equates civil society organisations Defiende Venezuela with terroriströrelser and the risk of ending up in prison is ever-present. Therefore, it is with mixed feelings as they are in Sweden during these dramatic days.

" On the one side, we would like to be in Venezuela and be a part of what is happening now. At the same time, we feel safe here in Sweden. In Venezuela, we run the great risk and is a target for the government, " says Genesis Davila.

The judge Maduro to have pushed Venezuela to the bottom of the bottom economically, and created a humanitarian crisis. The hope now is that the scrutiny of the country which have been initiated by the international criminal court in the Hague in leads to responsible are held to account.

" Venezuela has been subjected to systematic human rights violations in recent years. There is a huge shortage of food, the sick will receive not medications, students are prevented from going to university, and people are detained without trial. In Venezuela, violating all human rights, says Genesis Davila.

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