Venezuela’s Attorney General Issues Warning to Opposition Leader
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated on Thursday that opposition leader Maria Colina Machado could be labeled a “fugitive” if she attempts to leave the country to accept the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
Saab’s comments reflect the government’s serious stance against Machado, who is currently in hiding within Venezuela. The regime has leveled accusations against her, including “conspiracy, incitement to hatred, and acts of terrorism.”
“She is regarded as a fugitive because she exists outside Venezuela and is facing several criminal investigations,” Saab remarked. This designation means Venezuela would pursue her arrest and extradition if she tries to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony.
Recently, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Machado would travel to Oslo to receive the award for her “tireless efforts to enhance the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people,” a commendation she received in October.
Currently, it’s unclear how Machado might manage to journey to Norway, especially since President Nicolas Maduro’s government has imposed a complete travel ban on her. This prohibition dates back to 2014 when she was accused of dubious charges tied to her involvement in protests against Maduro’s administration.
Back then, Maduro’s government suggested Machado was part of an alleged plot to assassinate him, coinciding with her international tour and speech at the Organization of American States.
At this moment, she has support from Ecuador’s President Daniel Novoa and Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, who confirmed they would accompany her to Norway. The Nobel committee acknowledges the risks involved in this journey and is hopeful she will return to Venezuela afterward.
Saab elaborated that Machado is also under scrutiny for “calling for the invasion of Venezuela,” particularly due to her backing of U.S. military actions against drug trafficking in the region. Maduro and his administration have consistently claimed these U.S. operations are a guise aimed at invading Venezuela to oust him and exploit the country’s oil resources.
Furthermore, Saab indicated that over “100 mercenaries” are being charged in relation to a supposed CIA plot against Maduro.
In September 2024, the government issued arrest warrants for Machado and Edmundo González, the only opposition candidate allowed by Maduro to participate in a controversial presidential election scheduled for July 2024. Both are facing dubious charges related to the electoral process, including “insubordination” and “conspiracy.” After the arrest warrant for Machado was approved, she condemned it as an act of state persecution.
Though Maduro claims victory in the election, there have been no verified vote tallies to substantiate his assertions. Reports from the opposition suggest that González won decisively before fleeing to Spain after being targeted by Maduro’s regime.
This week, Machado released a four-page document titled “The Declaration of Freedom,” outlining her vision for Venezuela’s future governance post-Maduro, signaling a shift towards a more conservative, non-socialist political framework after years of socialist rule.
