Armed and hooded members of the Venezuelan security forces have surrounded Argentina’s embassy in Caracas, as reported by leaders of the country’s opposition. The situation arose as six members of the opposition sought refuge in the embassy to evade a crackdown by Venezuelan authorities in the lead-up to July’s presidential elections.
Pedro Urruchurtu, the international coordinator for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has been in the embassy since March, described the events on a recent Saturday. He mentioned that armed hooded members of the National Police had cordoned off streets surrounding the embassy. Additionally, drones were observed hovering above the embassy, and phone signals had been disrupted.
Another opposition member, Omar Gonzalez, residing in the embassy, shared a video showing Venezuelan police stationed outside the diplomatic premises. The heightened security measures come in the aftermath of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declaring victory in the July election, a claim met with skepticism both within the country and internationally.
Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, recently acknowledged by the US as the election winner, expressed concern in a post on a particular Saturday. He highlighted that the embassy had been “besieged by hooded people” and issued a global alert regarding the safety of the refugees within the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
This incident mirrors a similar occurrence in September when Venezuelan security forces also encircled the Argentine embassy. The ongoing situation at the embassy underscores the tense political climate in Venezuela and the challenges faced by opposition members seeking sanctuary amidst political turmoil.
