Argentina calls on ICC to issue arrest order for Venezuela's Maduro
- In Reports
- 02:52 PM, Sep 07, 2024
- Myind Staff
Argentina is urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, citing ongoing unrest in Venezuela following his declaration as the winner of the July election. The Argentinian Foreign Ministry contends that the actions of Maduro's government since the election could amount to crimes against humanity.
Buenos Aires plans to formally submit a request to the ICC on 9th September, seeking the issuance of an arrest warrant not only for Maduro but also for other officials within his government implicated in the alleged abuses.
Nicolás Maduro, a former bus driver who assumed the presidency of Venezuela in 2013 following the death of his mentor, Hugo Chávez, has faced numerous controversies throughout his tenure. However, recent pressure on Maduro has intensified both domestically and internationally in the wake of the contested July 28 election.
The Venezuelan opposition, led by candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, has alleged widespread fraud and claimed victory. The disputed election results have plunged Venezuela into significant turmoil, with at least 23 people reported dead, dozens injured, and thousands detained during the subsequent protests.
The crackdown on opposition to the election results has drawn condemnation from the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and several other countries, all of whom have criticised the Venezuelan government's handling of the unrest.
On the evening of September 6th, Venezuelan security forces surrounded the Brazil-managed residence of the Argentine embassy in Caracas, where six opposition figures have been seeking refuge since March, according to opposition figure Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli on X (formerly Twitter). Reports indicate that Brazil has since taken these six individuals into custody.
Since August, Brazil has been managing the Argentine embassy in Venezuela and representing Argentine interests following the expulsion of Argentine diplomats. This diplomatic shift came in the wake of Venezuela's expulsion of diplomats from seven Latin American countries in late July after those nations voiced concerns over the legitimacy of the recent election results.
Image Source: Military Review
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