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The White House has voiced its deep concern regarding the detention of Venezuelan human rights activist Rocio San Miguel and her family members. San Miguel, who leads the NGO Control Ciudadano focused on military oversight, faces charges related to an alleged assassination attempt on President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement, White House National Security Coordinator John Kirby said, “We are watching this very, very closely,” emphasizing the need for Maduro’s government to honor its promises for fair treatment of civil society and opposition under an agreement for upcoming elections.

Venezuela’s attorney general, Tarek Saab, announced San Miguel’s arrest, linking her to an alleged conspiracy and assassination plot against Maduro and top officials. Charged with treason, conspiracy, and terrorism, San Miguel awaits trial, while one relative faces charges of disclosing state secrets, and four others are under investigation with restricted movements. Despite these charges, San Miguel’s legal team has struggled to gain information about her court proceedings.

The international community, including the United Nations human rights office, has called for San Miguel’s immediate release, labeling her situation as a potential “enforced disappearance.” This arrest comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, with Washington recently reimposing sanctions following a temporary ease connected to an election agreement between Maduro and the opposition—a deal now under scrutiny due to the barring of a leading opposition candidate by Venezuela’s top court.