THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Prosecutors from the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that they are “actively monitoring” the situation in Venezuela, where security forces loyal to President Nicolás Maduro have launched a sweeping crackdown on opposition forces following the country’s disputed presidential election.
According to reports, over 2,000 people have been detained by Maduro’s forces for participating in protests against the president or for questioning his claim that he won a third term in the July 28 election by more than a two-to-one margin. Despite Maduro’s assertions, there is significant evidence suggesting that he lost the vote.
In a written statement, the office of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed that it is closely observing the unfolding events in Venezuela. “The office is actively monitoring the present events and has received multiple reports of instances of violence and other allegations following the presidential election of 28 July in Venezuela,” the statement read.
Khan’s office has also engaged directly with the Venezuelan government to stress the importance of upholding the rule of law during this critical period.
“We have engaged with the Government of Venezuela at the highest level to underline the importance of ensuring that the rule of law is adhered to in the present moment and emphasize that all persons must be protected from violations that may constitute Rome Statute crimes,” the statement continued.
The Rome Statute, which is the founding treaty of the ICC, outlines the crimes under the court’s jurisdiction, including crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.
Maduro has responded to the growing dissent by urging Venezuelans to denounce those who question the election results, using a government-run app originally designed to report power outages. In addition, Maduro announced plans to refurbish two large, gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected increase in jailed opposition members.
“There will be no mercy,” Maduro declared on state television, reinforcing his intent to suppress any challenges to his presidency.
The ICC’s investigation into Venezuela, which began in late 2021, remains ongoing, with no arrest warrants issued thus far. Khan’s investigation was initiated after a group of Latin American countries—Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru—referred the situation in Venezuela to the ICC, citing concerns over human rights violations.
As the situation in Venezuela continues to escalate, the international community is watching closely, with the ICC poised to take further action if evidence of crimes within its jurisdiction emerges.
