Machado requests safe-conduct passes for asylum seekers at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas

Opposition leader María Corina Machado asked this Saturday that “democratic nations” make “the pertinent arrangements” for the issuance of safe-conduct passes for the six opponents who have taken refuge in the residence of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, after the government will revoke the authorization granted to Brazil to protect the country’s interests southern Venezuelan territory.

Through X, Machado requested the issuance of safe-conduct passes according to “what is stipulated in international law,” which provides for this permission after the national government’s approval for leaving the country.

In addition, alerted “the world” about “the consequences” of “violations of these rules” could mean for Venezuela and “the entire region.”

The Venezuelan government on Saturday revoked the authorization granted to Brazil – which it granted in August after the expulsion of Argentine diplomats – for the alleged planning of “terrorist activities” by refugees in the Argentine facilities, whom it also accused of planning “assassination attempts” against President Nicolás Maduro and Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Brazil indicated that it will “remain in charge of the custody and defense of Argentina’s interests” until the southern country “designates another State acceptable” to Maduro’s Executive, in order to carry out those functions.

The governments of Argentina and Paraguay rejected Venezuela’s measure, while Uruguay considered that these actions “are in violation of the Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.”

Since Friday night, several refugees said that police surrounded and besieged the residence of the Argentine Embassy.

The asylum seekers are Pedro Urruchurtu, Magalli Meda, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos —all members of Machado’s party Vente Venezuela—, former deputy Omar González and Fernando Martínez Mottola, advisor to the largest opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform, who sought refuge last March after being accused of conspiracy and treason, among other crimes.