(Caracas) Venezuela has “immediately” revoked the authorization given to Brazil to represent Argentina in the country and in particular to manage the Argentine embassy where six opposition leaders have been sheltering since March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Saturday.
Venezuela “has taken the decision to immediately revoke the authorization given to Brazil to exercise the representation of the interests of Argentina” as well as to manage “the diplomatic mission,” according to the statement.
The text assures that Caracas has “evidence” of “the use of the mission for the planning of terrorist actions” and attempts to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela on July 29 severed diplomatic relations with seven Latin American countries that did not recognize Maduro’s contested re-election against opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims victory.
Among these countries, Argentina of Javier Milei – the two ideologically opposed presidents criticize and even insult each other regularly from a distance – which welcomed six opposition officials to the embassy residence in March, including those responsible for the electoral campaign.
They wanted to escape arrest after being accused of “conspiracy.” Brazil had taken over the management of the Argentine representations.
The Venezuelan opposition denounced on Saturday morning the “siege” by the police of the residence of the Argentine embassy in Caracas.
Electricity has been cut off there, according to the opposition.
Since Friday evening, security force vehicles have surrounded the residence, which is now managed and guarded by Brazil.
“This is how day breaks at the Argentine embassy in Caracas, surrounded by agents of the regime, hooded and armed, who – in addition – prevent access to journalists even though the street is not closed,” according to one of the messages posted on social networks by Vente Venezuela (Come Venezuela), the party of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
PHOTO CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado
AFP journalists noted the presence of police forces in the area.
Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), a critic of the Venezuelan government, said on X that “these threats and actions are totally against the law and are in no way acceptable to the international community.”
Much of the international community, including the United States and Europe, does not recognize Mr. Maduro’s victory. Brazil’s left-wing president Inacio Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is trying to be one of the mediators in the post-election crisis.
After the announcement of Mr Maduro’s re-election, spontaneous protests left 27 dead and 192 injured. Some 2,400 people were arrested, according to official sources.