Venezuela withdraws Brazil's authorization to represent Argentina
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Brazil indicated it would continue representing Argentine interests until Argentina designates another country for the role.
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Police guard Argentina's embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
The Venezuelan government announced on Saturday that Caracas has revoked Brazil's authorization to represent Argentina's interests within the country, including managing the embassy where six opposition figures have sought refuge.
In a statement, Venezuela declared the decision took effect "immediately" due to evidence that the embassy was being used to orchestrate assassination plots against President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez Gomez.
#COMUNICADO 📜
— Mayor Yury🪖🌟 (@Yury_H_) September 7, 2024
La República Bolivariana de Venezuela ha tomado la decisión de revocar, de manera inmediata, el beneplácito otorgado al Gobierno de la República Federativa de Brasil para ejercer la representación de los intereses de la República Argentina y sus nacionales en… pic.twitter.com/EsXh9RxSVr
A source informed Reuters that Brazil indicated it would continue representing Argentine interests until Argentina designates another country for the role.
On Friday evening, opposition members staying at the Argentine embassy reported via X that the building was under surveillance and had lost power.
Videos posted online showed individuals in black clothing, accompanied by patrols from Venezuela's intelligence agency, SEBIN.
🚨 | No dejan de llegar agentes armados a las afueras de la embajada de Argentina en Caracas.
— Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) September 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/mQyrcgL6af
The six individuals sought asylum in the Argentine embassy in March after a prosecutor ordered their arrest on charges of inciting the military to disobey laws, spreading false information, and orchestrating a murder plot on Maduro.
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Venezuela severed relations with Argentina after a disputed presidential election on July 28, in which the National Electoral Council declared President Maduro won.
Since then, the US-backed opposition forces have been intensifying their efforts to sabotage his victory.
They have propagated allegations of electoral fraud and asserted that their preferred candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, was the rightful winner.
Maduro has accused the opposition of triggering political instability and vowed to crack down on those complicit in sabotage operations.
