A/HRC/45/33 as “squaring people”. This interviewee said that there is a “triangle” from the chest of the victim upwards where shooting people is allowed. 114. The official version of the events in many cases was that the victims were killed while resisting arrest, in a confrontation and/or during an exchange of fire. However, the mission received direct evidence contradicting the official version. Witnesses interviewed stated that the victims were last seen or heard under the control of the police officers, including on a bed, on the ground, with a hood over the victim’s head or with the victim’s hands raised. Despite efforts to remove them from the scene, in some cases witnesses saw the officers firing the fatal shot. 115. The mission identified a pattern of allegations that police had attempted to cover up killings by simulating confrontations. The alleged actions include altering the crime scene and/or destroying forensic evidence; simulating a shoot-out or the escape of the victim; firing a shot from the hand of the victim to leave traces of gunpowder; planting weapons or contraband and transferring victims to hospitals even if they are dead. 116. Officials of the National Bolivarian Police and Special Action Forces corroborated these allegations, confirming practices of simulation of apparent confrontation. A former Special Action Forces officer said that the officials usually fire shots to mimic a shoot-out or they take an illegal weapon they have and then leave it there. Another source told the mission that the police routinely planted a gun or a grenade – referred to in jargon as “agricultural missions” to plant “seeds” – and then alleged that there was an armed confrontation. 117. The police forces themselves have published or confirmed information to news sites regarding the killings, in some cases accompanied by social media posts containing information about victims’ criminal records, their gang nicknames or photos of them wielding guns. 118. In 723 of the cases the mission reviewed, victims’ families said that the victim had no criminal history. In 67 cases reviewed by the mission, media reports said that the police had gone to a neighbourhood to look for a certain wanted person or criminal, but had killed another person by mistake. 119. An allegation appearing in almost all of the cases investigated was that police officers took basic goods (food and clothing) and valuables (cash, jewellery and electronics) from the houses of deceased victims. Several sources said that financial benefits and/or control over criminal markets provided an incentive for the killings, especially in the light of low police salaries, or that the killings were related to retribution or power dynamics within criminal relationships. C. Violations in the context of protests 120. Since 2014, a series of events have taken place in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to challenge Government decisions and denounce the political, economic and social situation. According to NGO Observatorio Venezolano de la Conflictividad Social, 61,295 protests took place between January 2014 and December 2019. 121. The demonstrations peaked at certain times. A review of available data indicates that human rights violations were higher in periods in which the protests were related to the political crisis. The periods of particular intensity were February to April 2014; April to July 2017; and January and February 2019. The mission prioritized investigating violations occurring during these periods. 122. The mission reviewed 97 cases in which human rights violations occurred. Of these, 14 appear in the full report as detailed case studies. The demonstrations were both planned and spontaneous, and they involved students, political parties, neighbourhood associations, NGOs, unions and professional associations. The demonstrations focused on denouncing concerns related to the political situation and economic and social rights. 123. Many protests caused transport disruptions, either owing to the number of participants, or as a result of sit-ins or roadblocks, including guarimbas made of different types of items. 14