Tareck El Aissami

Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones

Interiores y Justicia,

Av. Urdaneta, Esquina Platanal

Edif. Sede MIJ, Piso 1

Carmelitas, Caracas

Apartado Postal 1010^a

Venezuela

Estimado Sr. Ministro,

On 21 May 2004 Alexandra Hidalgo was kidnapped at gunpoint from her car in the Venezuelan capital Caracas. She was bundled into a van, blindfolded and driven to an isolated area. For seven and a half hours she was repeatedly raped and tortured by a group of men, one of whom she identified as her former husband, Ivan Sosa Rivero.

Rivero reportedly threatened to kill Alexandra Hidalgo and their children if she said anything about the attack, but she nevertheless managed to secure his arrest.

He was charged with kidnapping, rape and being an accomplice to aggravated vehicle theft. But he was never brought before a court and released conditionally in April 2005 and went into hiding. He has not been recaptured.

Alexandra Hidalgo claims Ivan Sosa Rivero was seen outside her apartment in April 2008 and lives in fear of what he might do to her and their children.

I am greatly concerned for the safety of Alexandra Hidalgo and her children.

I call on you to ensure that the alleged perpetrators are brought to trial.

Yours sincerely,

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