THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court said Monday they were “actively monitoring” the situation in Venezuela, where security forces have launched a crackdown on opposition forces in the aftermath of a disputed presidential election.
Forces loyal to President Nicolas Maduro have arrested more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against him or casting doubt on his claim that he won a third term in the July 28 election, despite strong evidence that he lost by more than two-to-one.
The office of International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan said in a written statement to reporters that it is “actively monitoring current events and has received multiple reports of violent incidents and other allegations following the Venezuelan presidential elections of July 28.”
The statement said Khan’s office has been in consultation with the Venezuelan government “at the highest levels to underscore the importance of upholding the rule of law at this time and that everyone must be protected from violations that may constitute crimes under the Rome Statute.”
The Rome Statute is the Court’s founding treaty and outlines the crimes over which the Court has jurisdiction.
Using a government-run app originally created to report power outages, Maduro called on Venezuelans to denounce those who question the election, and said his government was renovating two gang-controlled prisons in an expected surge in dissident incarcerations.
“There will be no mercy,” Maduro said on state television.
The ICC continues to investigate the violence that followed Venezuela’s 2017 elections but has not so far sought any arrest warrants.
Khan announced the investigation would be launched in late 2021 following lengthy preliminary investigations and formal requests for an investigation from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.
“The investigation continues to be intensive,” prosecutors said Monday, also highlighting an online portal where potential evidence can be submitted.
“We encourage any individuals or organisations with information that may be relevant to this ongoing investigation to come forward,” the prosecutor’s statement said.
