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.”