More than a dozen countries and the EU demand Venezuela release political prisoners and produce original election records

In a joint statement signed in Santo Domingo on Sunday, several countries and the European Union urgently called on the Venezuelan government to end the violence and release all detainees, including members of the opposition. Declaration of Santo Domingo The agreement was signed by Argentina, Panama, Chile, the Czech Republic, the United States, El Salvador, Italy, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Suriname and the European Union.

Demands on Venezuela

The signatories of the declaration demanded that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights be allowed to return to Venezuela immediately, stressing the importance of the entity being able to “fully carry out its mandate” in the country. The statement, read out by Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez in the Ambassadors’ Room of the National Palace, stressed the need to guarantee adequate conditions in Venezuela so that the Office can effectively carry out its functions.

Furthermore, Venezuela, as a party to the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, must abide by its provisions and grant the necessary safe conduct to the six asylum seekers currently staying at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.

Election transparency

The statement also noted the preliminary report of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Venezuela’s presidential election, which indicated that Venezuela’s National Electoral Council had not yet submitted electoral records that support the authenticity of the results of 28 August. It was stated that more than 80% of the electoral records that had been released in digital versions had different results from those published by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council.

The signatories therefore demand “the immediate publication of all original minutes and an impartial and independent verification of the results, preferably by an international entity, to guarantee respect for the will of the Venezuelan people as expressed in the vote.”

Background and influence

The Santo Domingo Declaration comes amid growing international concern about the situation in Venezuela, where arbitrary arrests and use of violence against political opponents have drawn widespread criticism. Through the document, the international community seeks to put pressure on the Venezuelan government to respect human rights and abide by its international obligations.