We, the undersigned organizations, express our grave concern for the safety and other basic rights of the six members of the opposition party Vente Venezuela who have sought asylum in the Argentinian embassy in Caracas, as well as for the employee of the embassy who has been arbitrarily detained. The international community should urgently call on Venezuelan authorities to ensure their rights and grant safe-conducts to the six asylees, allowing them to leave the country safely, and to unconditionally release the detained employee.
On March 20, 2024, in the context of the electoral campaign, Venezuelan authorities charged the Vente Venezuela members Humberto Villalobos, Claudia Macero, Magalli Meda, Omar González, Fernando Martínez Motola, and Pedro Urruchurtu with terrorism, conspiracy and treason. To avoid imminent arrest, they sought asylum at the Argentinian embassy, where they were granted protection.
On July 29, the Maduro government expelled Argentine diplomats, along with those of six other countries, after their governments criticized the National Electoral Council’s announcement that Maduro had won the election. Brazil then assumed the custody of the embassy. However, Venezuela later revoked Brazil's authorization to oversee the embassy, preventing Brazilian diplomats from entering.
The embassy is currently heavily guarded by Venezuelan intelligence and armed forces and nearby houses have been seized and occupied by security officials. The asylees are not allowed to have visits, and their access to food and medicine is controlled. For the last 24 days they have been without electricity and limited access to water, cut by the state-owned companies. The presence of security officials with assault weapons around the building has created a reasonable fear that security forces could use force against the six unarmed political asylees inside.
The actions described violate State obligations to protect individuals seeking asylum and protection against unlawful detention. It also contravenes the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which requires the receiving State to protect their premises from intrusion, damage, and disturbance.
The international community should urge the Venezuelan government to cease all forms of harassment against the asylees and grant them safe-conducts to safely exit the country, in accordance with articles XI, XII, and XIII of the Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954.
Venezuelan authorities should put an end to the violence and repression and seek avenues for a peaceful resolution of the political situation. The international community, especially with the support and mediation of Brazil and Argentina, should contribute to these efforts and uphold international commitments to human rights.
Signatures:
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR)
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
