The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors have announced that they are actively monitoring the situation in Venezuela following the recent presidential election. Security forces in the country, loyal to President Nicolás Maduro, have initiated a crackdown on the opposition after the disputed election results.
Reports indicate that over 2,000 individuals have been detained for protesting against President Maduro or questioning the legitimacy of his victory in the July 28 election. Despite strong evidence suggesting a significant margin of defeat, Maduro has claimed a third term in office.
In a statement released to the press, the ICC Prosecutor's office confirmed that they are closely observing the events in Venezuela and have received numerous reports of violence and other allegations post the election. The office has engaged with the Venezuelan government to stress the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring the protection of all individuals from potential Rome Statute crimes.
President Maduro has urged Venezuelans to report election doubters through a government-operated app, originally designed for reporting power outages. He has also announced plans to repurpose two gang-controlled prisons to accommodate the anticipated increase in the detention of political opponents, warning of no leniency.
The ICC is already conducting an investigation into the violence that erupted after the 2017 election in Venezuela. While no arrest warrants have been issued yet, Prosecutor Khan initiated the investigation in late 2021 following a formal referral by several countries in 2018.
The ongoing investigations are actively seeking relevant information, and the prosecution has encouraged individuals and organizations with pertinent evidence to submit it through an online portal. The ICC remains focused on the situation in Venezuela and is committed to pursuing justice in accordance with the Rome Statute.
For more updates on Venezuela, visit AP's coverage of Venezuela.
