(Sazua.com) – On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his approval over the successful liberation of everyone detained by Venezuela’s government at Argentina’s embassy in Caracas, referring to them as “hostages.”
“After a meticulous operation, all hostages are now securely on U.S. soil,” Rubio stated on Twitter.
The five individuals, who are close associates of opposition leader Maria Corina Machada, have been residing within the embassy since March 2024. This came about following accusations from Venezuela’s Attorney General alleging they were involved in a conspiracy, which led to arrest warrants being issued against them.
The information ministry of Venezuela didn’t promptly reply to requests for comments. The Brazilian government, which was offering political safeguarding at the embassy, stated they hadn’t received any notification yet.
In December 2024, Fernando Martinez, an additional opposition adviser who had resided within the embassy, turned himself over to the offices of the attorney general. He passed away earlier this year in February.
Government officials often charge the opposition with collaborating with nations like the United States to carry out acts of terror, oust Maduro from power, and assault Venezuela’s electrical infrastructure. However, the opposition consistently refutes these claims.
The Argentine residence is presently being held by Brazil following Buenos Aires severing ties with Caracas due to the elections.
Maduro was announced as the victor by both the election officials and the nation’s highest court; however, they have not provided vote counts from individual polling stations.
(Reported by Natalia Siniawski, Julia Symmes Cobb, Lisandra Paraguassu, and Jasper Ward; Edited by Sarah Morland)
