Venezuela: Maduro claims that the UN Human Rights office in Caracas became an “office of conspiracy”

MADRID, 20 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, stated this Monday, days after announcing the expulsion of the staff of the United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR), that this organization has “become an office of espionage and conspiracy” and He has asserted that he will not allow his return until he “respects” the sovereignty of Venezuela and apologizes.

“That technical office and some of its spokespersons broke the terms, the principles of the signed agreement, they violated the letter and spirit of the UN Charter (…) They all left the country on Saturday, fortunately, and that will be the case until that office does not respect the letter of the UN, does not respect the independence and sovereignty of Venezuela, and does not rectify and apologize,” he declared.

Maduro has explained that the OHCHR has been working in the Latin American country since 2019, when Michelle Bachalet was in office as United Nations High Commissioner, and made a visit to Caracas, where they met at the Miraflores Palace and signed a document to the creation of a technical advisory office to prevent “pure lies” from reaching the organization, as well as “what appears on the Internet, pure manipulations of far-right news portals financed by the United States Government.”

«It was signed, it was installed and, suddenly, that office deviated from being a technical advisory office that respects the institutions and advises on the legal reforms that the country needs so that the institutions improve to being an office of espionage and internal conspiracy. “, he declared, before highlighting that it was transformed “into a law firm, terrorists, conspirators, coup governors and assassinations.”

Caracas’ decision to suspend the activity of the OHCHR was made last week, alleging an attack on “the sovereignty and self-determination of the country with lies, falsifications, misinformation and manipulations” after its position regarding the arrest of activist Rocío San. Miguel, who also has Spanish nationality, accused of alleged crimes of treason, conspiracy and terrorism.

Since October 2019, OHCHR has been working in Venezuela, providing technical assistance and monitoring the situation to protect and promote respect for Human Rights, improve the rule of law and protect the democratic space.

This office has also been providing support for the inclusive and participatory development of the second national Human Rights plan and the establishment of a national mechanism for reporting and monitoring the recommendations of international Human Rights mechanisms.