Venezuela to grant safe passage of Machado aides to Argentina

Venezuela’s government will grant safe passage to Argentina to six aides to opposition leader María Corina Machado under existing arrest orders, according to an official with direct knowledge of the matter.

Machado’s campaign manager, Magalli Meda, as well as top aides Pedro Urruchurtu, Claudia Macero and three others sought refuge in Argentina’s Embassy in Caracas last month after Venezuela’s Public Prosecutor ordered their arrest for their alleged involvement in a plot to destabilise Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Venezuela’s government is awaiting confirmation from the Argentinian government to coordinate their travel, said the person, who asked not to be named because the information is private.

Argentina’s Foreign Ministry and Milei’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The arrest orders on Machado’s team come amid a crackdown on dissent ahead of July elections in which the opposition primary winner has been banned from participating by Maduro’s government. The crackdown has added pressure on the Biden administration, which threatened to reimpose sanctions unless Maduro moved toward free and fair elections.