ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - September 20, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - September 20, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• EU Parliament Recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelan President
• Bangladesh Grants Police Powers to the Military amid Continued Instability
• Tunisian Presidential Candidate Sentenced to Prison

EU Parliament Recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as Venezuelan President

On September 19, 2024, the EU parliament voted to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as the President of Venezuela following the July elections. Last week, Urrutia departed to Spain, escaping an arrest warrant in Venezuela over his challenge to the election results that declared President Nicolás Maduro the victor. After the previous Venezuelan elections in 2018, the United States and the European Union recognized an alternative government led by Juan Guaido instead of Maduro. However, their support for Guido ultimately empowered President Maduro, and they have largely decided against re-using the same techniques this time. The European Union's support for Urrutia is unlikely to persuade the United States to recognize an alternative government. Urrutia's support is largely borrowed from Maria Corina Machado, a more popular opposition figure who remains in Venezuela.

Bangladesh Grants Police Powers to the Military amid Continued Instability

The Bangladeshi interim government has granted wide-ranging policing power to the country’s military amid continued instability following the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5. The new powers will last for two months, at which point they could be renewed if necessary. Most police officers went into hiding after Hasina’s flight to India, fearing reprisals for hundreds of protester deaths during the unrest that preceded the government’s fall. Many officers have since returned to work but refuse to engage in duties far from their stations. The military has stepped in to provide law enforcement but was largely doing so unofficially before the September 17 order.

Tunisian Presidential Candidate Sentenced to Prison

On September 18, 2024, a court in the northwestern city of Jendouba sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to a 20-month prison sentence on fraud charges related to allegedly obtaining fraudulent signatures to obtain his presidential candidacy. Ayachi Zammel's legal officials announced that he will continue to run in the upcoming October 2024 elections despite the ruling. Presidential cnadidate Zammel is one of two candidates running against incumbent President Kais Saied, who is expected to win the election. Critics of Saied's administration alleged that the arrest was intended to secure his victory in the coming election, as the Tunisian government conducted a wave of arrests targeting politicians, government critics, journalists, and activists in the past. The move shed further doubt from opposition groups on the fairness and integrity of the upcoming election. However, government officials claim the arrests were necessary to maintain national security.