Death of Venezuela's Opposition Figure in Detention Called 'Despicable' by United States Representatives.

The American administration has condemned the Venezuelan government over the death of a jailed opposition figure, labeling it a "stark reminder of the despicable nature" of President Nicolás Maduro's rule.

The former governor died in his cell at the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, where he had been incarcerated for in excess of twelve months, according to advocacy organizations and opposition groups.

The Venezuelan government reported that the former governor exhibited indicators of a myocardial infarction and was rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed on the weekend.

Intensifying War of Words Between Washington and Venezuela

This new criticism from the United States is part of an growing diplomatic spat between the White House and President Maduro, who has alleged Washington of attempting his overthrow.

In the past few months, the America has boosted its military presence in the Latin America and has conducted a series of deadly attacks on ships it says have been used for moving drugs.

US President Donald Trump has claimed Maduro himself of being the head of one of the country's narco-trafficking organizations—an claim the Venezuelan president vehemently denies—and has hinted at armed intervention "by land".

"Alfredo Díaz had been 'arbitrarily detained' in a 'center of abuse'," declared the American diplomatic office for the region.

Background of the Imprisonment

Díaz was taken into custody in that year after being among several political opponents to dispute the results of that year's presidential election.

Venezuela's pro-government electoral authority announced Maduro the victor, notwithstanding opposition tallies indicating their candidate had won by a overwhelming majority.

The electoral process were widely dismissed on the global scene as neither free nor fair, and triggered protests across the country.

Díaz, who was in charge of the Nueva Esparta state, was charged of "stoking division" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's declaration of success.

Responses from Advocates and the Opposition

National advocacy group Foro Penal has raised concerns over worsening conditions for detained dissidents in the South American state.

"Yet another political prisoner has died in Venezuelan detention centers. He had been imprisoned for a twelve months, in isolation," wrote Alfredo Romero, the group's president, on a social media platform.

He added that Díaz had only been allowed one encounter from his child during the entire length of his detention. He further stated that 17 detained dissidents have lost their lives in the nation since 2014.

Opposition groups have also denounced the regime over the passing of Díaz.

María Corina Machado, a prominent political rival who received this year's Nobel Peace Prize but who is in seclusion to escape capture, stated that the governor's demise was not a one-off event.

"Sadly, it joins an disturbing and heartbreaking sequence of deaths of political prisoners held in the context of the post-election crackdown," she wrote.

The Democratic Unitary Platform declared that the former governor "was an unjust death".

His own party, Democratic Action (AD), also paid tribute to the ex-leader, saying he had been held without justice without fair treatment and had stayed in conditions "which violated his fundamental rights".

Wider International Strains

Strains between the United States and Venezuela have become ever more tense over what Trump has called attempts to stem the flow of drugs and immigrants into the US.

• US bombings on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed dozens of individuals.
• Trump has claimed Maduro of "clearing out his jails and psychiatric facilities" into the US.
• The US has designated two Venezuelan narco-groups as terrorist organisations.

Maduro has in turn claimed the US of using its drug enforcement efforts as an pretext to overthrow his administration and get its hands on Venezuela's huge oil reserves.

The US has also stationed a significant armada—its most substantial deployment in the area in many years—along with thousands of troops.

In a connected action, the Venezuelan armed forces according to reports enlisted more than 5,600 soldiers in one go on the weekend, in reaction to what military leaders described as US "aggression".