Argentina has warned Venezuela to respect diplomatic norms amid fears that Nicolás Maduro’s government may attempt to take over its Embassy in Caracas.
In a fast-developing dispute, Venezuela said Saturday it was revoking permission for Brazil to represent Argentina's diplomatic interests in the country in the messy aftermath of President Nicolas Maduro's disputed re-election.
Officials in the Maduro administration even alleged it had evidence that “terrorist activities” were being planned at the diplomatic building in the Venezuelan capital.
Brazil responded quickly and insisted it would maintain the status quo, at least for now, of overseeing the Argentine Embassy, where six Venezuelan opposition officials have been sheltering for months.
Venezuela was furious when Argentina joined other Latin American countries in asking for a complete review of the results of the July 28 election.
Argentina was among seven Latin American countries whose diplomatic staff were asked to leave Caracas as Venezuela severed relations with those nations.
Brazil, led by leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, agreed to take over custody of the Argentine Embassy, where six people loyal to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado have been sheltering since March to escape arrest on conspiracy charges.
Opposition campaign manager Magalli Meda, Machado advisers Pedro Urruchurtu and Claudia Macero, and three others sought refuge in Argentina’s Embassy six months ago after Maduro’s public prosecutor ordered their arrest for alleged involvement in a plot to destabilise Venezuela’s government.
But on Saturday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Caracas was immediately revoking its permission for Brazil to keep custody of the Embassy and represent Argentine interests in the troubled, oil-rich country.
He said Venezuela had evidence the Embassy was being used to plan "terrorist actions" and even assassination attempts against Maduro.
Argentina slammed Venezuela's "unilateral decision" and warned Caracas to respect diplomatic norms.
"The Argentine Republic rejects this unilateral measure and warns the Venezuelan government that it must respect the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which enshrines the inviolability of the premises of the missions," Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in a statement
"Any attempt to interfere with or kidnap the asylum seekers who remain in our official residence will be harshly condemned by the international community," it continued, thanking Brasília for "its commitment and responsibility" in taking care of its interests in Venezuela.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry said Brasília – in accordance with the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and Consular Relations – would continue to represent Argentine interests in Venezuela and keep custody of the embassy until Buenos Aires names another country to do so that is acceptable to Venezuela.
The statement insisted the Argentine Embassy compound in Caracas was "inviolable."
The Venezuelan opposition said Saturday morning that the Argentine Embassy was under siege and electricity had been cut off.
Vehicles of the Venezuelan security forces have encircled the compound since Friday night.
This "Saturday, September 7, the siege of the Argentine residence in Caracas, protected by Brazil, continues. More and more presence of hooded officials. They have closed the street to vehicles. We are still without electricity," posted Pedro Urruchurtu, one of the sheltering opposition officials, on X.
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry also complained about the security patrols of the “Venezuelan intelligence services and security forces” outside the residence. "Actions like these reinforce the conviction that in Maduro’s Venezuela the fundamental rights of human beings are not respected.”
Venezuela has been in a political crisis since authorities declared Maduro the victor of the July 28 election. The opposition has cried foul, claiming it had evidence its candidate had won by a comfortable margin.
Numerous nations, including the United States, European Union and several Latin American countries – including Argentina – have refused to recognise Maduro as the winner without Caracas releasing detailed voting data.
On July 29, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry notified the governments of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay that they should withdraw their diplomatic staff because of their positions on the elections.
Post-election violence in Venezuela has claimed 27 lives and left 192 people injured while the government says it has arrested some 2,400 people.
On Friday and "given the worsening of the situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," Argentina’s Foreign Ministry urged "the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to request … arrest warrants against Nicolás Maduro and other leaders of his regime."
– TIMES/AFP
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