Amnesty International has issued an open letter to Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging immediate action against Venezuela for crimes under international law. The organization highlighted an escalating human rights crisis where security forces and pro-government groups are responsible for numerous deaths and the arbitrary detention of thousands.
The letter calls for the ICC to accelerate its investigation, issue a preventive statement to deter further crimes, and support NGOs and human rights defenders who face increasing attacks. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director at Amnesty International, remarked on Khan’s silence amid the crisis, pointing out the gravity of the situation which includes the deaths of dozens and over 2,000 arbitrary detentions in recent days.
Venezuela has been in turmoil since the conclusion of the presidential elections on July 28, with both Nicolás Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González claiming victory. The opposition accused the government of electoral fraud, sparking protests on July 30, which led to 11 deaths, over 100 injuries, and more than 700 arrests, including opposition leader Freddy Superlano. The protests were triggered by allegations that the National Electoral Council (CNE) manipulated the election results in favor of Maduro.
Amnesty’s call for action comes amid growing international concern. The United States has recognized González’s victory, while several EU countries have demanded the release of official voting records following conflicting data published by the opposition. More details can be found in the JURIST report.