The Canadian government reiterated its support for the lawsuit before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro for human rights violations filed in 2018. Canada, as well as Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Argentina filed a complaint with the ICC “Numerous human rights violations committed by the Nicolás Maduro regime” and that “constitute crimes against humanity”.
The statement by the Canadian diplomacy came after Argentina withdrew from the 2018 ICC lawsuit against the Maduro government. The announcement raised eyebrows against the Alberto Fernández government both inside and outside the country.
The 2018 complaint was accompanied by two reports prepared by international experts documenting extrajudicial processes and arbitrary detentions in the framework of anti-government protests in Venezuela.
Through a statement, the United Nations Human Rights Officer, Michelle Bachelet assured this week that her office has documented at least 66 cases of intimidation, harassment, disqualification and criminalization of journalists, media, human rights defenders, humanitarian workers, union leaders and members or supporters of the opposition, including elected members of the 2015 National Assembly and their families.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry recalled that the ICC prosecutor authorized a preliminary investigation into the situation in Venezuela on her own initiative. “The International Criminal Court has our full support and trust. Canada will continue to work with all partners to support the ICC’s work on this investigation. We call on Venezuela to cooperate with the Court. The perpetrators of international crimes must face justice”, he said in a statement.
For his part, Orlando Viera-Blanco, Venezuelan ambassador to Canada, has already added more than 40 bilateral meetings in the last two months with his counterparts accredited in Canada. Last week, Viera-Blanco held meetings with his counterparts from Finland, Georgia and Switzerland in “search of peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the political and social crisis in that nation,” said a statement from his office.
Pressure inside and outside
Upon hearing this news, the interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, condemned the president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, to withdraw the lawsuit. Does the government of President Alberto Fernández consider that there is justice in Venezuela, that the victims are protected and it is guaranteed that atrocities will not happen again?”, Guaidó wrote in his Twitter account.
On the other hand, the NGO Provea denounced a “campaign of attacks” by the Venezuelan regime against the ICC, a few weeks after the high court decides whether to open a formal investigation into crimes against humanity in the country, currently under preliminary examination.
