Venezuela’s Chilling Warning: ‘Hands Off Our Opposition’ – Argentina Embassy Caught in Diplomatic Deep Freeze
Venezuelan President Maduro’s All-Out Campaign to Arrest Opposition Figures
Tension Over Possibility of Embassy Entry
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is suspected of election fraud, has launched an all-out campaign to arrest opposition figures hiding in the Argentine embassy in Venezuela.
Opposition Figures Under Protection
Six opposition figures have been under protection for up to six months at the Argentine embassy in Venezuela. Venezuela expelled its diplomats after the Argentine president claimed that the July presidential election was “unfair.” Since then, Argentina has temporarily delegated control of the embassy to Brazil, and the Brazilian authorities have been in charge of protecting Venezuelan politicians and others.
Increased Pressure on the Embassy
Venezuelan government agents also arrived at the Argentine embassy, increasing pressure on the opposition figures. The Associated Press interpreted the increased pressure on the embassy as retaliation for Argentina’s foreign minister’s remarks linking unfairness in the presidential election to crimes against humanity and calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for President Maduro.
Diplomatic Conflict
Diplomatic conflict also seems inevitable. The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying, “Attempts to raid the ambassador’s residence and kidnap asylum seekers will be condemned by the international community.” The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been classified as an “ally” of the Maduro government, issued a press release saying that, in accordance with the Vienna Convention, they will protect the Argentine embassy in Venezuela until other countries can fully protect it.
Opposition Candidate Goes into Exile
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who ran as a candidate for the Democratic Opposition Union (PUD) in the last presidential election, has chosen to go into exile in Spain. Venezuelan Vice President Rodriguez said that “Gonzalez Urrutia, who was living as a voluntary refugee in the Spanish embassy in Caracas, requested political asylum from the government,” and that he was allowed to leave “for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country.”
Related Topics:
Venezuelan Presidential Election
Nicolas Maduro
Opposition Figures
Argentine Embassy