Almagro announces that he will ask the ICC for an arrest warrant against Maduro

Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), accused the government of Nicolás Maduro of directing the instruction for the implementation of repression against citizens. He said that “it is fulfilling” its announcement of “a bloodbath,” referring to the protesters killed in the protests.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, announced that he will ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to order the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. Almagro accused the president of having committed a “bloodbath” against the protesters who took to the streets in rejection of the results released by the National Electoral Council (CNE) in which Maduro was declared the winner of the presidential elections.

“It is time for justice and we are going to request charges with an arrest warrant,” Almagro said on Wednesday, July 31, during an extraordinary session of the Permanent Council of the OAS held in Washington.

He stressed that in the midst of the investigation being carried out by the ICC Prosecutor’s Office into alleged crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela since 2014, “the time has come to bring charges against those most responsible, including Maduro.”

Almagro accused the government of Nicolás Maduro of directing the instruction for the implementation of repression against citizens. He said that it is “fulfilling” its announcement of “a bloodbath,” referring to the protesters killed in the protests.

The OAS, however, failed to secure a majority on Wednesday to approve a resolution calling for verification of the results in Venezuela. The absence of Mexico and several Caribbean countries, coupled with the abstention of 11 countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia, meant that the necessary votes were not obtained to approve the document.

Prior to the vote, behind closed doors, representatives of the OAS member countries negotiated the text of the document for more than 5 hours.

The meeting began more than two and a half hours late due to disagreements over a phrase in the draft resolution, said Permanent Council President Ronald Sanders, without giving further details. The OAS call for action was made following a request from 12 member countries.

During a session called for this Wednesday, July 31, the voting round was as follows: 17 votes in favor, zero against, 11 abstentions and five absent delegations: