A federal court in Argentina has issued an order for the 'immediate' arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello for alleged crimes against humanity committed against dissidents. The court's decision came following an appeal by Argentine prosecutor Carlos Stornelli after a previous ruling had dismissed the complaint against both Venezuelan leaders.
The federal court members Pablo Bertuzzi, Leopoldo Bruglia, and Mariano Llorens have directed that 'the arrest warrants for Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello be executed immediately, and that their international arrest should be ordered via Interpol for the purposes of extradition to the Argentine Republic,' according to the resolution.
This development comes shortly after Venezuela's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for Argentina's President Javier Milei amid a growing dispute between the two countries over the detention and transfer of a cargo plane from Argentine territory to the United States. The plane, allegedly sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a Venezuelan state-owned company, has been at the center of the diplomatic tensions between Venezuela and Argentina.
The case against Maduro and Cabello was initiated by the Argentine Forum for Democracy in the Region (FADER) in early 2023, citing Argentina's commitment to human rights and the principle of universal jurisdiction. The plaintiffs allege a systematic plan of repression, forced disappearances, torture, homicides, and persecution against dissidents in Venezuela dating back to 2014.
This latest development further escalates the strained relations between Venezuela and Argentina since President Milei took office in December, leading to a breakdown in diplomatic ties between the two nations.
For more news and updates on Latin America and the Caribbean, visit AP's coverage of the region.
