OAS Urges ICC Arrest for Maduro

Luis Almagro, the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS), has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of orchestrating a “bloodbath” against protesters. Almagro made this statement during an extraordinary session of the OAS’s permanent council in Washington, highlighting the gravity of the situation as protests erupted nationwide following a disputed presidential election on July 28, which Maduro allegedly “won.” The Venezuelan National Electoral Center (CNE) claims that Maduro has been re-elected for another six-year term starting in January 2025, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. The regime has not released the final results of the election, prompting skepticism from several countries, including the United States, Argentina, and Chile. Human rights organization Foro Penal reported at least 11 deaths and 672 arbitrary arrests linked to the protests, primarily in the capital and the states of Anzoátegui and Carabobo. In contrast, Maduro's Attorney General Tarek William Saab reported over 1,000 arrests related to the protests. Almagro's call for an arrest warrant follows the OAS's failure to pass a resolution demanding the release of vote tallies and independent verification of the election results. Notably, countries like Brazil and Colombia abstained from the vote, while Mexico did not participate, reflecting divisions within the OAS regarding the situation in Venezuela. The Maduro regime has framed its departure from the OAS as a response to alleged U.S. efforts to destabilize its government, further complicating the international response to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.