hey International Penal Tribunal (TPI) will initiate a formal inquiry against Venezuela By Possible crimes against humanity during the suppression of anti-government protests in 2017, this Wednesday (3) informed prosecutor Karim Khan in a meeting with the President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
The ICC opened a preliminary review in 2018, upon which Khan would have to decide whether to proceed with the next step.
“I ask everyone, as we enter this new phase, to give my office a place to do its work,” remarked the prosecutor.
Maduro said, “After this assessment and this debate, the prosecutor decided to go to the next stage to seek the truth. We as a state respect his decision, even though he was told that we would share it.” don’t.”
The two signed a cooperation agreement for this next step at the Miraflores Palace, the seat of the Venezuelan Presidency.
Khan, who Arrived in Venezuela on Sunday on a three-day visit, Maduro, thanks to “constructive dialogue” in meetings with his Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, Attorney General Tarek William Saab and Supreme Court representatives.
“I am fully aware of the political divide that exists in Venezuela. We are not politicians, we are guided by the principle of legitimacy and the rule of law,” the ICC prosecutor insisted.
International Criminal Court in The Hague confirms indictment against Venezuelan President
After a preliminary investigation was launched by the Netherlands-based international court in 2018, Khan’s predecessor Fatou Bensouda said the South American country had a “reasonable basis” for committing crimes against humanity. In the video above, recall the complaint presented in 2017.
“We are clear and direct in saying that the so-called preliminary analysis phase did not allow the State of Venezuela access to the documentation and material that was being evaluated. As I told respected lawyer Karim Khan, we are blind at this stage. were,” criticized Maduro.
Khan, who is due to return to Venezuela on an as yet undefined date, also said that he had met with “national and international organizations” before and during his visit.
During the days the prosecutor was in Venezuela, relatives of victims of alleged human rights violations asked to “listen in” to small street protests.
On Wednesday, about 20 people protested outside the headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service Sabin, where opponents are being held.
