Omar Gonzalezone of the six opponents granted asylum since March in the residence of the Argentine Embassy in Venezuela, warned this Sunday of the “critical” situation who live in the property -under the diplomatic protection of Brazil-, where they denounce a continuous siege since last November 23.
“We issue an urgent alert to the national and international community about the critical situation faced by six persecuted political asylum seekers in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, under the protection of Brazil,” said González, a close collaborator of opposition leader María Corina Machado, in X.
This Saturday, Pedro Urruchurtu y Magalli Meda -also asylum seekers- reported that a week had passed since the “siege” on the outskirts of the property.
Urruchurtu said to EFE which, since last Monday, are “no electricity”after the reported theft of electrical fuses, and that they also do not allow access to a tanker truck with drinking water to replace what was consumed in the residence’s tank, which – he stated – ran out this Saturday, after several days of rationing its contents.
“November 30/6:55 pm: A week of continuous siege of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, in Brazilian custody, while officials remain outside. We are still without electricity and access to drinking water is prevented. “The water tank has just been emptied, after rationing what was left,” Urruchurtu denounced in a message on X.
The largest opposition coalition – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – this week called for international pressure to stop the “criminal siege” and “to issue, as soon as possible, “safe conduct for the six companions”among them also Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos -party collaborators Sell Venezuelaled by Machado- and the e xminister Fernando Martínez Mottolaalliance advisor.
Vente Venezuela expressed that accepting “these violations of international law creates a very dangerous precedent for the rest of the diplomatic headquarters in Caracas.” Therefore, he continued, “their involvement and support is urgently needed to guarantee their own protection,” since -VV added- “If there is no secure embassy, no one will be able to protect themselves from persecution.”
The six opponents entered the diplomatic headquarters after the Prosecutor’s Office accused them of several crimes, such as conspiracy and treason.
Since August, the Argentine embassy remains under the protection of Brazil -after the expulsion of the diplomats from the southern country-, even though the regime of Nicolas Maduro It revoked this authorization in September due to the alleged planning of terrorist acts inside the headquarters by the asylum seekers.
Last Saturday, the Argentine Foreign Ministry denounced “acts of harassment and intimidation” against its embassy and demanded that Venezuela issue “the necessary safe conduct” so that refugee opponents can leave the country.
The Chavista regime later denied the siege. “Let them pay for the electricity, let them pay for the services, we are not going to give them anything,” ironically the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Hairin a press conference.
The siege situation has occurred on several occasions. The last one occurred in September, when Caracas announced its decision to revoke Brazil’s permission to represent Argentina. The government of Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, which has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of the presidential election, later said it would continue to defend Argentina’s interests.
(With information from EFE)
