G7 calls on Maduro government to end human rights violations

The G7 foreign ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, called on the Venezuelan authorities on Tuesday to “put an end to human rights violations» and expressed their outrage at the arrest warrant and threats against the opposition candidate in the recent elections, Edmundo González.

In a statement by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, as the G7’s representative on duty, he expressed “deep concern about the situation in Venezuela, following the vote on 28 July” and said:He stressed that the victory proclaimed by Nicolás Maduro, “lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy”“as indicated by reports from the UN Panel of Experts and independent international observers, as well as data published by the opposition.”

Photo: Pedro Rances Mattey / AFP

Representatives from Italy, Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Japan and the United Kingdom again called for “the election results to be complete and independently verified to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people.”

They also “expressed their outrage at the arrest warrant and the constant threats to the safety of the opposition candidate, “who decided to seek refuge in Spain” and mentioned that according to “the independent reports mentioned above, Edmundo González Urrutia appears to have obtained the most votes” on July 28.

They also urged “Venezuelan representatives to put an end to all human rights violations and abusesarbitrary arrests and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly affecting the political opposition, human rights defenders and representatives of independent media and civil society.

They called for “the release of all political prisoners and a path to freedom and democracy for the people of Venezuela.”

They urged the international community to “keep Venezuela high on the diplomatic agenda and expressed support for regional partners’ efforts to facilitate the Venezuelan-led peaceful and democratic transition that the people of Venezuela have clearly chosen in the polls.”