A fourth American has been arrested in Caracas for an alleged plot to “assassinate” President Nicolas Maduro, according to Venezuelan authorities, who denounce the “interference” of the European Union (EU) and Spain in the affair.
“Another citizen of North American origin has been captured […]”We were following him, he was captured here in Caracas taking pictures of electrical installations, oil installations, military units,” Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced Tuesday before Parliament.
“Be sure that he is part of the plot against Venezuela: to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro, [la vice-présidente] Delcy Rodriguez and myself,” he added.
Venezuelan authorities announced on Saturday the arrest of three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech, claiming to have seized some 400 rifles from the United States. Mr. Cabello had then spoken of an alleged plan intended to “generate violence” and “destabilize” the country.
It is not known where the seven foreign nationals are being held, what charges they are facing and whether they have been brought before a judge despite requests from Washington, Madrid and Prague.
“They ask where they are, what harm we are doing to them. We respect human rights and they are protected by the Venezuelan authorities in a safe place,” Cabello simply said.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the United States, as well as with Spain, over the disputed re-election of President Maduro.
EU countries have so far refused to recognize a winner in the July 28 presidential election, while Washington has recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Threatened with prison in his country, the latter has been in exile for a week in Spain, which has granted him asylum.
“Interference”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil spoke with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares on Tuesday, asking Spain to “immediately rectify” its position.
“Venezuela will not tolerate an escalation of aggression and interference by Spain, which in recent years has become a haven for terrorists and criminals linked to fascism in our country,” Gil wrote on Telegram.
Mr Albares demanded confirmation of the identity, charges and places of detention of two detained Spaniards and said he would provide them with “diplomatic and consular protection”. The minister certified that they “have no links with any Spanish public body, much less with the CNI”, the Spanish Intelligence Service, and specified that they were “in contact […] with families” in these “very complex and difficult times”.
Earlier, Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, Coromoto Godoy, had “delivered a note of protest to the head of the European Union delegation” in Caracas “after the continued statements of interference by High Representative Josep Borrell.”
“We will no longer tolerate any interference […] The European Union should take care of its problems,” he added.
On Sunday, Josep Borrell told Spanish private television channel Telecinco that “in Venezuela, more than 2,000 people were arbitrarily detained after the elections. The opposition leader had to flee. Political parties are subject to a thousand restrictions in their activities.” […] What do you call all this? Of course, it is a dictatorial regime.”
“Let’s not get confused about the nature of things,” added Mr. Borrell, a former Spanish foreign minister. “Venezuela called elections, but it was not a democracy before and it is much less so after.”
The National Electoral Council declared Mr Maduro the winner of the election, with 52% of the vote. But the opposition maintains that Mr Gonzalez Urrutia obtained more than 60% of the votes.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with him and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, assuring them that the White House “will continue to advocate for the return of democratic freedoms” in Venezuela and “will fight to ensure that the will of the voters is respected,” according to the State Department spokesperson.