The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, announced on Monday that the Government of Venezuela had already confirmed the identity and charges against the two Spanish citizens detained, according to Caracas, for alleged espionage as part of a plot to destabilize Nicolas Maduro’s government.
In an interview with Catalunya Ràdio, the head of Spanish diplomacy clarified that at the end of last week he had official confirmation of the arrest and accusations of the two Basque citizens, as he had previously requested to his Venezuelan counterpart, Yván Gil.
From this moment, as Albares himself announced, “diplomatic and consular protection” is exercised for the inhabitants of Bilbao José María Basoa Valdovinos and Andrés Martínez Adasme “so that these two compatriots unjustly detained in Venezuela can return where they should always be, that is to say with their families.
Asked about the accusations against them, the Minister of Foreign Affairs avoided responding, arguing that his ministry must “work calmly” and that the detainees “also have the right to privacy”.
And he reiterated that Basque citizens “have nothing to do” with “any Spanish public body, and even less with the CNI”.
In this sense, when he learned the news, he conveyed it to the families of the two residents of Bilbao, as well as to the Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales.
In this regard, Albares met last Friday in New York with the Venezuelan Vice Chancellor, Ránder Peña, and demanded that Spain be able to provide consular access to the two Spaniards detained in Venezuela, as well as that the specific charges against them be communicated.
“Let no one doubt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and I will spare no effort until these two compatriots unjustly detained in Venezuela are where they always should be, free and with their families,” Albares added before insisting. that his situation is “unacceptable”.
