On Sunday, September 15, France recommended its citizens postpone any trip to Venezuela “unless there is an imperative reason” due to a “renewed tensions” following the presidential elections. These recommendations come after the arrest by Venezuelan authorities of three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech, accused of being linked to an alleged plot to “destabilize” the country.
“People already there are strongly advised to stay away from any demonstrations or meetings of a political nature and to keep themselves informed of the political and security situation.”added the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis and Support Centre in a travel advisory published on Sunday. “It is also recommended to refrain from any expression about the Venezuelan political situation in public spaces.”add text.
For his part, the head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, described the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as “dictatorial” during an interview broadcast in Spain on Sunday. “In Venezuela, more than 2,000 people were arbitrarily detained after the elections. The opposition leader had to flee. Political parties are subject to a thousand restrictions on their activities.”Mr Borrell argued.
Twenty-seven dead in protests
“What is all this called? Of course, it is a dictatorial regime.”The EU’s top diplomat told Spanish private television channel Telecinco, adding that “Venezuela called for elections, but it was not a democracy before and even less so after”.
The statements come as Venezuelan authorities arrested three Americans, two Spaniards and a Czech, accused of being linked to an alleged plot to “destabilize” the country, reporting the seizure of some 400 rifles from the United States. Washington and Madrid have denied any involvement in such an operation.
Borrell’s comments provoked a strong reaction from Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, who described the European diplomat, on Telegram, as “spokesman of evil” that would be found in the “dump of history”. Gil also accused Borrell of having “transformed the European Union into a decrepit, colonialist and warlike institution”.
Venezuela recalled its ambassador in Madrid for consultations and summoned Spain’s envoy to Caracas for talks on Thursday after Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles called the Maduro administration a “dictatorship” and greeted “Venezuelans who had to leave their country” because of his diet. Spain, like all EU member states, is demanding the full publication of the minutes issued by the polling stations after the presidential elections on 28 July, something that the Venezuelan authorities have not done, claiming that they had been victims of computer hacking.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro the winner of the vote, with 52% of the votes. But the opposition claims, based on the minutes provided by its scrutineers, that Edmundo González Urrutia, an opponent of the outgoing leader exiled in Spain, obtained more than 60% of the votes. Spontaneous protest movements following the announcement of the election result left 27 dead and 192 injured in the country, while some 2,400 people were arrested, according to official sources.
