Nicolás Maduro, President of the Republic of Venezuela (Credit: Wikipedia Commons)

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The International Criminal Court is opening a formal investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed  committed by Venezuelan security forces under President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, including  torture and extrajudicial killings. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan made the announcement after a three-day visit to Venezuela last week.  The investigation will center on alleged abuses committed in the context of protests and repression that have occurred since 2017.  The announcement was accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maduro government agreeing to cooperate to facilitate the ICC investigation in accordance with international standards and the Rome Statute of the ICC, and to continue pursuing justice for these crimes at the national level within Venezuela’s judicial system. 

“The investigation – now opened – is not a one-way road. It is only the start of a process. My Office will support any sincere and meaningful effort undertaken by the Venezuelan Government to reform and revitalise the justice and penal system in order to enable genuine accountability in Venezuela for the victims of alleged crimes. This MoU sets the stage for sustained dialogue and cooperation as we move to the next phase in this situation. As the MoU makes clear and as I have stated publicly, the preliminary examination into the Situation in Venezuela (Venezuela I) has come to a close following a thorough and independent process with a finding that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation.”

-ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan

Karim A.A. Khan QC, ICC Prosecutor and H.E. Mr Nicolás Maduro Moros, President of Venezuela at the signing ceremony of the MoU on Wednesday, 3 November 2021. (Credit: ICC-CPI-int. )

Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) supports the Office of the Prosecutor’s decision to open a formal investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the Maduro government 

“The opening of a formal investigation into crimes committed by government officials and pro-government individuals, including arbitrary imprisonment, sexual violence, torture, and persecution on political grounds, is an important step in the pursuit of justice for victims and their families. It is the first country in the Americas to be subject to a formal ICC investigation, and marks a milestone in the effort to combat impunity for grave human rights violations in Venezuela and across the hemisphere.  It is of utmost importance that these atrocities are not met with impunity, and that Venezuelan authorities do not engage in reprisals against victims and witnesses that come forward.”

-WOLA  Statement