Venezuelan opposition members leave shelter after more than a year
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they were in the US after a ‘precise’ operation at the Argentine diplomatic compound in Caracas.
Five members of Venezuela’s political opposition have left the Argentine diplomatic compound in the capital Caracas, where they had sheltered for more than a year to avoid arrest.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said they were in the US after what he described as a rescue operation.
The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not immediately comment on the situation.
“The US welcomes the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas,” Mr Rubio said on X. “Following a precise operation, all hostages are now safely on U.S. soil.”
The government of Argentine President Javier Milei allowed the five people into the ambassador’s residence in March 2024, when authorities loyal to Venezuela’s ruling party issued warrants for their arrest, accusing them of promoting acts of violence to destabilise the country.
The group included the campaign manager and communications director of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Ms Machado, also on X, thanked people involved in what she called an “impeccable and epic operation for the Freedom of five heroes of Venezuela”.
Since late November, the group had denounced the constant presence of intelligence service agents and police outside the residence. It had also accused the government of cutting electricity and water services to the compound.
The government had denied the allegations.
Fernando Martinez, a cabinet minister in the 1990s, sheltered with the group for nine months. He abandoned the compound in mid-December and, according to Venezuelan authorities, appeared before prosecutors. He died in February.
Mr Maduro’s government routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents ahead of last year’s presidential election and its crackdown on dissent only increased after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.
The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force and ended with more than 20 people dead.
They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.
In August, Brazil accepted Argentina’s request to guard the diplomatic compound in Caracas after Mr Maduro’s government expelled its diplomats when Mr Milei said that he would not recognise “another fraud”.
A month later, Venezuela revoked Brazil’s authorisation to guard the facility, alleging it had evidence of the use of the premises “for the planning of terrorist activities and assassination attempts”.
Brazil and Argentina have rejected those accusations.
