ICC to resume Venezuela investigation
June 28, 2023
The International Criminal Court ruled that international prosecutors should resume investigating alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela by security forces under President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela’s own probe has fallen short, according to the judges, who said that the country’s investigations appeared to be focused on low-level perpetrators. The ICC seeks to prosecute senior commanders deemed responsible for crimes. (El País, Associated Press)
The decision follows a petition by the ICC prosecutor to continue his investigation after the Venezuelan government asked the court in April 2022 to defer to the government’s own inquiries. The government’s request automatically put the ICC investigation, first opened in November 2021, on hold.
The decision, yesterday, is a victory for human rights organizations, who have pushed for the international court to investigate the alleged crimes. Human rights NGOs such as Defiende Venezuela and Acceso a la Justicia said the ICC decision is a victory for the victims.
“With this decision, ICC judges have greenlighted the main, if not only, credible pathway to justice for the victims of abuses by Nicolás Maduro’s government,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “The decision confirms that Venezuela is not investigating high-level officials’ role in systematic abuses.”
The Maduro administration said the ICC has encouraged and contributed to a strategy with political purposes “of regime change” in Venezuela.
The ICC decision comes at a critical time in Venezuela, which should hold presidential elections next year. Maduro has sought to reestablish himself on the international stage in the lead-up.
This is the first time that an investigation has been opened against an incumbent government and the first time in this instance that an investigation has been opened in a Latin American country.
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