Rafael Acosta Arévalo

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Rafael Ramón Acosta Arévalo (16 June 1969 – 29 June 2019) was a Venezuelan naval officer with the rank of corvette captain. He lived in Maracay, was married to Walewska Pérez, and had two children. He studied at the Military Academy of the Bolivarian Navy and served in the Bolivarian Navy.

On 22 June 2019, Acosta Arévalo disappeared after being detained by the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) and the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), along with several other active and retired officers. The government later accused him and others of planning a coup against Nicolás Maduro. On 28 June he was moved to the military court in a wheelchair and showed serious injuries; his lawyers said their interview with him could not be private. He was then taken to the Army Military Hospital in Caracas, where he died on 29 June, reportedly from torture and its injuries.

An autopsy reportedly found multiple injuries, including broken ribs and other signs of abuse. The preliminary findings pointed to severe brain swelling from polytrauma as the cause of death. Two DGCIM officials were charged with homicide related to his death, and the case drew strong international criticism.

The death sparked reactions from many countries and organizations, including the European Union, the Lima Group, the Organization of American States, the United States, and several governments, who called for an independent investigation and justice. On 2 July 2019, Acosta Arévalo was posthumously promoted to frigate captain by Guaidó on behalf of the National Assembly.

His body stayed in a Caracas morgue for days before being buried in the Eastern Cemetery, in a controlled ceremony that relatives say did not honor his wishes to be buried in Maracay. A floral wreath left outside the Navy command was rejected by guards. The government has given varying explanations for his death, and calls for independent inquiries have continued from national and international groups.