The Venezuelan opposition applauded Thursday the decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, to request the agency's Pre-Trial Chamber to resume the investigation of the Caribbean country following a postponement requested by the Nicolás Maduro regime to obtain the information that had been given to it required, and which, according to the official in The Hague, was not provided.
At the end of the period of this postponement without the Executive providing the ICC with the required documentation, the regime requested that the High Court, in a letter dated April 15 and transcending this Thursday, “formally abstain from the investigation in favor of the actions carried out by the competent national authorities of Venezuela”, so that these are the ones that continue the process internally.
The letter assures that State institutions are investigating or have investigated their “nationals or other persons within the jurisdiction in respect of alleged acts punishable against human rights”.
The Rome Statute, the founding of the ICC, requires that the prosecutor accept Caracas' request or submit a petition to the Court requesting permission to resume his own investigations, a request that will include the relevant observations of the victims, their legal representatives and other interested parties in the case.
Considering that Venezuela has not submitted any new information justifying a review of its previous assessment that has led it to determine the opening of an investigation, Khan will request to continue the investigation and it will be the Chamber that will decide on the procedure to be followed.
The prosecutor stressed in a statement his “willingness to cooperate with national authorities in their efforts to seek justice,” but recalled that effective implementation of the Statute can only be achieved by “deepening cooperation and finding common ground wherever possible, even in complex and challenging circumstances.”
“While the Venezuelan authorities disagreed with my decision to open an investigation, I felt it in their honor that they still sought to engage with my office to develop stronger cooperation and identify ways in which we can support accountability through processes at the national level,” he added.
Regarding Khan's announcement, opponent Juan Guaido said that the desire “to continue the investigation into crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela vindicates the work of the victims, their representatives and civil society on the road to achieving justice.”
“The dictatorship failed in its attempt to simulate justice. We are confident that there will be no impunity, because that is the only way to achieve redress for the victims and ensure the non-repetition of events. May this further encourage our fight for justice, freedom and democracy,” the opponent wrote on Twitter.
In this regard, the antichavista and two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles argued that the members of the government leadership “are accustomed to a tailored 'justice', with institutions loyal to their political control plans.”
“The ICC puts them back in their place. Our full support and accompaniment to the victims and their families on this path to achieve true justice,” he added on the social network.
In the opinion of Venezuelan lawyer Tamara Suju, “tyranny has not been able to deceive” the Hague Tribunal “because there is no intention of doing fair and true justice.”
The Venezuelan case dates back to 2018, when the ICC Prosecutor's Office began a preliminary examination for the alleged commission of crimes against humanity, since at least April 2017, during demonstrations throughout the country.
(With information from EFE)
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