The Venezuelan assassin who killed Ronald Ojeda, a Venezuelan dissident in Chile who was critical of President Nicolas Maduro, has finally been captured in Costa Rica after months on the run. Ojeda had been a former lieutenant and self-described political prisoner who fled to Chile and sought political asylum there.

The capture of the Venezuelan killer in Costa Rica was confirmed by officials in Chile who vowed to ensure that they would continue to seek justice for the Venezuelan dissident who fled his country to protest against the Maduro regime.

"It's an important step," posted Chile Interior Minister Carolina Toha on X, formerly Twitter. She also promised that Chile would "continue making every effort to clarify the case and ensure that those responsible face justice."

The relationship between Chile and Venezuela had been strained since the killing of Ojeda, as the incident happened on Chilean soil, with the country's officials suggesting that it was the Venezuelan government who orchestrated the killing of the dissident soldier, according to the Associated Press.

The assassination of a Venezuelan dissident on foreign soil also sparked fears that the Maduro regime has opened a new front in its political crackdown. However, the Venezuelan government has already denied any involvement in Ojeda's death.

The killer was identified as Maickel Villegas Rodríguez, who is a Venezuelan citizen. He was arrested by police in Costa Rica after he tried to cross the border into Panama by bus. Costa Rica acted on an Interpol notice filed against Villegas earlier this year, says Chile.

Another Venezuelan national involved in the killing of Ojeda, 28-year-old Walter Rodríguez Pérez, is still at large and is believed to be back in Venezuela. A 17-year-old accomplice had previously been arrested in Chile after the assassination.

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The Events That Led to the Killing of Venezuela Dissident Ronald Ojeda in Chile

The assassination of Ojeda happened despite a decision by the US to lift sanctions against Venezuela last year. The Venezuela dissident had been kidnapped before being found dead by authorities in Chile, where he had been staying at that time.

According to the Financial Times, men wearing Chilean police uniforms and were seen in CCTV footage in riot gear arrived at Ojeda's 14th-floor apartment on February 21. They were marching him "barefoot and in his underwear, down the hallway."

However, these kidnappers left no ransom note, and this led to Chilean authorities believing that the abduction was done by Venezuelan agents. They soon sprang into action, but it was too late as they believed Ojeda had been killed days before they found him, possibly on the date he was kidnapped.

Venezuela Tried To Reduce Tensions With Chile Over Killing of Dissident

Despite the Venezuelan government being accused of the assassination that happened on foreign soil, the country's Attorney General Tarek William Saab claimed that they would take action to locate and arrest the suspects.

This comes after Chile had denounced Venezuela for how little it had been cooperating in the criminal investigation, according to El Pais.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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