The initiative, promoted by Senator Felipe Kast, was unanimously approved by all senators. In the agreement, they ask the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, to recognize Edmundo González as the elected president of Venezuela and ask the ICC Prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant against Maduro.
The Chilean Senate approved on Tuesday 27 “unanimously” a resolution requesting President Gabriel Boric to ask the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against President Nicolás Maduro for his alleged responsibility in crimes against humanity committed in the country.
This was announced by the Senator Felipe Kastwho was the driving force behind the resolution, told the media after the session. “We know that all the formal elements of the investigation have already been fulfilled, which, in addition to the torture that has already been documented, the persecution, and the prohibition that Nicolás Maduro has generated for thousands of Venezuelans to live in freedom and democracy, give us a moral obligation today,” he said.
Senate of Chile @Senado_Chile unanimously approves a draft agreement to request the Criminal Court, and specifically the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Karim AA Khan QC, to arrest dictator Nicolás Maduro. @IntlCrimCourt pic.twitter.com/EwwT3loBBW
— Felipe Kast (@felipekast) August 28, 2024
The agreement also asked President Boric to recognize Edmundo González as the elected president of Venezuela, following the presidential elections of July 28. According to the results announced by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council, the winner was Nicolás Maduro. The opposition claims that the tally sheets collected give the victory to its standard-bearer.
On August 12, the ICC Prosecutor’s Office reported that it was “actively monitoring” the situation in Venezuela, following an escalation of repression by the Maduro administration to silence protests against the results of the presidential election.
Venezuela has been the subject of an ongoing investigation since November 2021 into alleged crimes against humanity. In particular, the ICC Prosecutor is investigating the commission of crimes of torture, including sexual violence, persecution, mass and arbitrary detentions, as well as enforced disappearances.
To date, no arrest warrants have been issued for any suspects. Prosecutor Khan has said his approach is complementary, but he does not dismiss the lack of action of national authorities to punish these crimes.
The ICC Prosecutor’s Office said that “these investigations continue with attention,” and highlighted the online portal where possible evidence can be presented.
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