Rabat – Morocco, alongside 20 other countries, has called for restraint and respect for democratic principles in Venezuela following the contentious presidential election held on August 2, according to a joint statement released by the US State Department.
Issued in Santo Domingo de Guzmán on Friday, the statement stressed the urgent need for Venezuela to adhere to the principles of human rights and democratic governance in the wake of rising tensions in the country.
The countries that signed the statement include the US, the EU, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Panama, and Italy, among others.
Venezuela’s ongoing post-election turmoil began when opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, claimed a landslide victory over the incumbent president, Nicolas Maduro. However, Maduro has refused to release official results and continues to suppress the opposition through mass arrests.
The situation has drawn international attention, with some countries recognizing Gonzalez’s victory, while others have called for a new election with better democratic safeguards.
The signatory countries expressed deep concern over reports of arbitrary detentions and the repression of protesters in the post-election context, highlighting that such actions undermine the dignity and integrity of individuals.
“We urge for the respect of democratic principles, as well as the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Venezuelans, particularly the freedom of peaceful assembly and the freedom of expression,” the statement reads, condemning the violence that has resulted in numerous deaths.
Morocco and other signatories have called for the immediate release of all individuals detained without due process, including opposition representatives. The statement also urges Venezuelan authorities to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to return to the country and to ensure that the commission can fully carry out its mandate.
The nations took note of the preliminary report by the United Nations Expert Panel, which questions the validity of the election results. The report indicates discrepancies between the official outcome and the digital version of the electoral records, with the latter showing a different result than that announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE).
The joint statement demands “the immediate publication of all original records and the impartial and independent verification of those results, preferably by an international entity, to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed at the polls.”
In addition, the signatory countries called on Venezuela to comply with the Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954 by providing safe passage for six asylum seekers currently residing in the Argentine embassy.
