their demands; the absence of an official version of the events, and the failure to punish those responsible even though 16 years had passed. According to the representatives, all of this has prevented “healing the wounds caused by the death of Igmar and Eduardo,” particularly the suffering of the parents during the latter’s detention, because they did not receive “due attention and information from the State agencies and their agents,” regarding his whereabouts or when he would be transferred. The representatives indicated that the facts have harmed the affective, “social and workrelated” relationships of the members of the Landaeta brothers’ family, thus altering “their dynamics and their life projects.” In addition, the representatives emphasized some of the suffering they endured in particular, such as the trauma suffered by their mother, the physical and emotional toll on their father and two sisters, the elder of whom, Victoria Eneri Landaeta Galindo, had to undergo psychological treatment “to overcome the death of her brothers, and the emotional distance that separated her from her father.” With regard to Igmar Landaeta’s companion, the representatives alleged that his death had an impact on her life project, because she was left in charge of the “task of bringing up their daughter” alone. Lastly, the representatives indicated that Igmar Landaeta’s daughter also suffered emotionally owing to the absence of her father. 278. The State did not submit arguments on the alleged violation of the personal integrity of the family members, but merely rejected all the allegations of the InterAmerican Commission in its Merits Report. B. Considerations of the Court 279. The Court has already established that the State of Venezuela is responsible for the violation of the obligation to respect the right to life to the detriment of Igmar Landaeta, and for the unlawful and arbitrary detention of the minor, Eduardo Landaeta, followed by his death, because it failed to comply with its obligation to respect and ensure their rights. In numerous cases, the Court has considered that the next of kin of the victims of human rights violations may also, in turn, be victims. 365 On this point, the Court has understood that the right to mental and moral integrity of some family members has been violated owing to the additional suffering they have endured as a result of the specific circumstances of the violations perpetrated against their loved ones, and due to the subsequent acts or omissions of the State authorities in relation to the facts. 366 280. In this case, the Court considers that the following are presumed victims: María Magdalena Mejías (mother); Ignacio Landaeta Muñoz (father); Victoria Eneri and Leydis Rossimar, both surnamed Landaeta Galindo (sisters); Francy Yellut Parra Guzmán (permanent companion of Igmar Landaeta), and Johanyelis Alejandra Landaeta Parra (daughter of Igmar Landaeta). 281. Therefore, the Court will assess whether there were particularly close ties between the family members and the victims in this case that would establish a violation of the personal integrity of the next of kin and, consequently, a violation of Article 5 of the Convention in their regard. 367 In addition, it will analyze the alleged existence of harm to the mental and moral integrity of the members of the Landaeta Mejías brothers’ family based on their testimonial statements, 368 as well as on the psychological report prepared 365 Cf. Case of Castillo Páez v. Peru. Merits. Judgment of November 3, 1997. Series C No. 34, fourth operative paragraph, and Case of Veliz Franco et al., supra, para. 233. 366 Cf. Case of Blake v. Guatemala. Merits. Judgment of January 24, 1998. Series C No. 36, para. 114, and Case of Veliz Franco et al., supra, para. 233. 367 Cf. Case of Blake, supra, para. 114, and Case of Luna López, supra, para. 201. 368 Affidavits made on January 24, 2014, by: María Magdalena Mejías (mother); Victoria Eneri and Leydis Rossimar, both surnamed Landaeta Galindo (sisters), and Francy Yellut Parra Guzmán (permanent companion of Igmar Alexander Landaeta Mejías) (merits file, folios 773 to 778; 779 to 783; 784; 788 to 794, respectively). 79

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