Venezuelan intelligence chief deserts Maduro government as crisis deepens

摘要

Internal divisions within Venezuela's military and security forces have been highlighted by the flight from the country of General Manuel Cristopher Figuera, formerly head of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligen-cia Nacional: SEBIN). Figuera became the highest-ranking security official to lend his support to the opposition, which - under the leadership of the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Juan Guaido - is continuing to challenge the legitimacy of the government of President Nicolas Maduro.