OAS Secretary General recommends his arrest for bloodshed in Venezuela
The turmoil in Venezuela following the recent election results continues to escalate, drawing international reactions.
On Wednesday, Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), announced that he would request the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Almagro accused Maduro of orchestrating a “bloodbath” in the wake of the elections, where opposition protests were met with violent repression. He stated, “The president promised a bloodbath and is carrying it out. It is time for the International Criminal Court to charge him with crimes against humanity and issue arrest warrants against the main culprits, including Maduro.”
Amidst growing international pressure to validate his disputed re-election, Maduro accused opposition leaders of having “blood on their hands” and threatened them with imprisonment. During a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace, Maduro singled out opposition figures Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, saying, “Mr. González Urrutia, show your face, come out of hiding, don’t be a coward. Ms. Machado, you have blood on your hands.” He vowed, “They will never take power… These people must go to prison, and justice must be served,” referring to what he described as an international “counter-revolution” and a “violent attempt to seize power.”
This marked Maduro’s first press conference with foreign media in nearly two years. During the event, he held a Bible, claiming divine support, described himself as “David against Goliath,” and denounced American “imperialism,” Western nations, and the European Union, stating, “We won’t let them sow hatred, division, and fascism in Venezuela.”
Maduro, the political heir of socialist leader Hugo Chávez, has been in power since 2013. The electoral commission declared him the winner of the recent elections, securing 51.2% of the vote against 44.2% for González Urrutia, ensuring Maduro’s third term in office, which extends until 2031.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was barred from participating in the election, had endorsed González Urrutia as her replacement. Both Machado and González Urrutia disputed the election results, citing “massive fraud.” Machado claimed she received “73% of the votes” and demanded the national electoral council (CNE) release detailed results and conduct a transparent recount.
The election aftermath has been marred by violence. Since Monday, 11 civilians have been killed, according to NGOs, while a soldier was reported as the twelfth victim, shot dead during the protests. The prosecutor’s office reported 77 injuries among security forces and over 1,000 arrests.
Machado, updating the death toll, spoke of “16 murders” and “11 enforced disappearances,” condemning what she termed the “regime’s” escalating “repression” via X. She criticized Maduro’s “criminal reaction to the Venezuelan people’s protest.”
Supporters of Maduro also mobilized, with thousands marching to the presidential palace to express their support.
Earlier, appearing at the Supreme Court with his wife, Maduro expressed his willingness to release the full election results, stating he was “100% ready” to provide transparency.
The United States, which supports the opposition’s claim of victory, expressed frustration, with U.S. officials urging electoral authorities to release “complete and detailed results” for international scrutiny. U.S. Undersecretary Nichols stated that the opposition “clearly” won against Maduro. The G7 and the EU also called for transparency, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell demanding an end to “violent rhetoric and repression against opposition members.” Borrell clarified that the European Union would not recognize the election results unless complete data was provided.
Despite restoring relations with Venezuela, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed “serious doubts” and called for a “transparent” review of the election results. Nine Latin American countries also called for a full recount under the supervision of independent observers.
In response, Venezuela’s government withdrew its diplomatic staff from seven of these nine countries and cut ties with Peru after Lima recognized González Urrutia as the “legitimate” president.
Meanwhile, tensions between Maduro and billionaire Elon Musk, who supported Machado during the election, intensified. Musk claimed that “the citizens overwhelmingly voted for candidate González (Urrutia),” and previously criticized the election results, calling them a “shame on dictator Maduro.” In a dramatic twist, Maduro challenged Musk to a boxing match, saying, “Come to the Poliedro [arena in Caracas]. You and me. If I win, I accept your trip to Mars — but you will come with me!”
Venezuela, once a wealthy oil-producing nation, has been devastated by an unprecedented economic crisis. The opposition blames mismanagement and corruption, while the government attributes the crisis to U.S. sanctions. The country’s oil production has plummeted from over three million barrels per day to less than one million. The GDP has shrunk by 80% over the past decade, hyperinflation has led to partial dollarization of the economy, and both healthcare and education systems are struggling. Seven million citizens have left the country.
