Federal Court in Argentina Orders Immediate Arrest of Venezuelan Dictator Narco Boss Maduro for Crimes Against Humanity
In a momentous development, a federal court in Argentina has issued an “immediate” arrest order for Venezuelan Dictator Narco Boss Maduro and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello on charges of alleged crimes against humanity. These charges center on accusations of systematic repression, forced disappearances, torture, and persecution of dissidents in Venezuela since 2014.
Court’s Response to Appeal
The court’s ruling follows an appeal by Argentine prosecutor Carlos Stornelli, which overturned a previous decision that dismissed the complaint against the two Venezuelan leaders. Federal court members Pablo Bertuzzi, Leopoldo Bruglia, and Mariano Llorens issued the resolution, calling for the immediate execution of arrest warrants for both Maduro and Cabello. They also requested that Interpol facilitate their international arrest for extradition to Argentina.
This legal action was initiated by the Argentine Forum for Democracy in the Region (FADER) in early 2023, invoking Argentina’s human rights laws and the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows courts to prosecute individuals for crimes against humanity, regardless of where the crimes were committed.
Rising Tensions Between Argentina and Venezuela
The arrest orders were issued amidst escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Just hours earlier, Venezuela’s Supreme Court had issued an arrest warrant for Argentine President Javier Milei. This move was in retaliation for Argentina’s detention and subsequent extradition of a Venezuelan cargo plane, which the U.S. claims was sold by a sanctioned Iranian airline to a Venezuelan state-owned company.
Since Milei’s assumption of power in December, relations between Venezuela and Argentina have deteriorated, largely due to Milei’s far-right policies and outspoken criticism of the Venezuelan regime. The arrest warrants for Maduro and Cabello have further strained the fragile relationship between the two countries.
Alleged Crimes in Venezuela
The charges against Maduro and Cabello are severe, with plaintiffs alleging that the Venezuelan government has been involved in a broad range of human rights abuses since 2014. These include forced disappearances, torture, homicides, and the persecution of political dissidents. Argentina, known for its strong jurisprudence on human rights, is now taking a firm stance by pursuing these charges under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The international community will undoubtedly monitor this unfolding situation closely, as the legal actions could potentially reshape regional geopolitics and impact the stability of both Argentina and Venezuela.