Venezuela: Demand to stop “persecution” against opposition refugees in Argentine Embassy

The Venezuelan opposition has demanded an end to the persecution of anti-Chavez activists who have been sheltering for six months in the official residence of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.

The campaign command of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) of Edmundo González Urrutía denied that they are, in their opinion, “criminalized for their tireless fight for freedom” in Venezuela.

“We demand an end to the persecution and freedom for all,” said the Venezuelan Command, which has been meeting the faces of refugees since March at the Argentine residence, under the protection of Brazil, after the staff of the diplomatic mission of the southern country was expelled, an authorization that, however, Venezuela revoked from the South American giant on September 7.

Those seeking asylum are Pedro Urruchurtu, Magalli Meda, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos – all members of the Vente Venezuela (VV) party, led by María Corina Machado -, former deputy Omar González and Fernando Martínez Mottola, advisor to the PUD, after being accused by the Chavista Prosecutor’s Office of conspiracy and treason, among other crimes.

Last Monday, Urruchurtu urged the international community to join the efforts of Argentina and Brazil to obtain the safe-conduct passes that will allow them to leave Venezuela, while denouncing that there is a “permanent siege and harassment” against the residence where they are.

On September 10, the Argentine government acknowledged that it is “moving forward” to ensure that the six opposition members “do not have any problems at all” following Nicolás Maduro’s decision to revoke Brazil’s authorization to guard the diplomatic headquarters.

Vente Venezuela also demanded the release of its national leaders Henry Alviarez and Dignora Hernández, imprisoned for six months, accused of an alleged connection with “violent actions” linked to the July 28 elections.

The Caribbean country is currently experiencing one of its worst political crises since the elections, in which Maduro was proclaimed by the pro-government National Electoral Council (CNE), while the PUD insists on the victory of González Urrutía, now exiled in Spain since September 8.

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