Operation was performed by the US; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ranked rescue as “precise” and opposition leader María Corina Machado, as “impeccable” and “epic”
The government of the US President (Republican) announced on Tuesday (6.MAI.2025) that the 5 Venezuelans who were sailed at the Argentine embassy in Caracas (Venezuela) were released and are on American soil.
The operation, performed by surprise, was classified as “it needs” by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He said opponents to the government of (United Socialist Party of Venezuela, left) were hostage. The group is formed by employees of the main opposition leader, who played in the July 2024 election campaign.
“Maduro’s illegitimate regime undermined the Venezuelan institutions, violated human rights and endangered our regional security. We thank all the staff involved in this operation and our partners who helped ensure the safe liberation of these Venezuelan heroes,” Rubio wrote in his in X by announcing the operation.
The group had been asylum in the Argentine embassy for over 1 year. The asylums had sought refuge on site after the Venezuela Attorney General’s Office accuses them with conspiracy and “Betrayal to the Fatherland”.
The Brazilian government the security of the representation of diplomatic headquarters on August 1, 2024 after the Venezuelan government ordered that of the country’s diplomatic corps led by (La Libertad Avanza, right) and 6 other Latin America nations. There are no Brazilian employees on site.
The measure was because, at the time, the governments contested the legitimacy of Maduro’s reelection in the elections of July 28, 2024. The Argentine diplomatic corps and the Argentine military left Venezuela in response to Maduro’s notification.
The Brazilian role in the Argentine embassy is mainly to custody facilities and files. The country had also become responsible for ensuring the protection of opposition members to the Chavista government, who were sheltered at the embassy in Caracas.
María Corina Machado celebrated the success of the operation in a publication on her page at X. “An impeccable and epic operation for the freedom of 5 Venezuela heroes. My infinite recognition and gratitude to all those who made it possible”these.
Complaint to Lula
On April 28, the group that was at the Embassy to the President (PT) with charges for a solution that ensured the exit of the local group.
In the letter, the opponents criticized the omission of Brazilian representatives and called for speed in the process.
“Today we have completed 404 days since we entered this diplomatic headquarters, and more than 5 months without electricity or running water, under conditions that violate basic human rights. This situation is worsened by the constant police siege around diplomatic headquarters. […] President Lula, we have been waiting for more than 1 year a concrete action that guarantees our safe departure, accompanied by his government, preserving our right to life, which we fear in the face of the continuous threat we face ”, said an excerpt from the document. Here’s (PDF – 346 kb).
Since assuming the embassy security, the Brazilian government has been trying to negotiate a safe conduit so that the group could leave the site and go to an airport or airport to leave the country. The Maduro government never granted such a request.
According to the group, the “silence” From Lula about the situation was contradictory and stained the image of the Brazilian government. “Today, the Brazilian flag is humiliated, as we are humiliated we daily within this embassy, which have turned into prison,” The opponents affirmed at the time.
“In a context in which historical memory and justice are values defended by the Brazilian government, we are trapped in a limbo, without the safe conducts that are a right within the milestones of the international agreements signed. Imagine what it is to spend more than 5 months without electricity, without water in the pipes and with constant physical threats. said the letter.
Encounter with Maduro
Lula should meet Maduro in Russia this week. The petista embarked on Tuesday (7.mai) to participate in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.
The date marks the achievement of allies against Nazi Germany in World War II, to be celebrated on Friday (9.MAI). Russian President Vladimir Putin invited both Lula and Maduro to the ceremony. This will be the first time that South American leaders will meet personally since the elections in Venezuela in July 2024.
The claim that reelected Maduro was marked by controversy regarding the legitimacy of the result. At the time, Lula initially no “Nothing abnormal” With the Venezuelan electoral process, but would expect the disclosure of official results by the CNE (National Electoral Council). In August 2024, the Brazilian government, along with the Mexican and the Colombian, the dissemination of voting minutes by mature management.
Nicolás Maduro in January 2025, but Lula did not attend. The Brazilian Ambassador in Caracas, Gilvânia Maria de Oliveira, the country at the ceremony. The absence of the petista marked the removal among the leaders, who cultivated a friendly relationship until then.
