Over 170 legislators from 15 countries demand ICC to accelerate investigation against Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela, warn of eventual bloodbath

The Madrid Forum joined together with over 170 legislators from various countries to urge Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to accelerate the investigation into crimes against humanity committed by Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela.

In a statement released on social media, the organization warned that in Venezuela, “The conditions are in place for a bloodbath to occur,” but assured that this catastrophe can be avoided if the ICC advocates for a rapid transition to the trial phase.

The forum was emphatic that the Venezuelan regime has been perpetrating crimes against humanity for years and that several international organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the U.N. Committee against Torture (CAT) and even the ICC Prosecutor's Office have already documented these crimes.

“For decades, the Venezuelan regime has been committing crimes against humanity, complemented by the Rome Statute. These are murders, torture, imprisonment, forced disappearances, rapes and persecutions carried out in a systematic and widespread manner,” indicates the open letter signed by more than 170 legislators from 15 countries.

Likewise, the Madrid Forum emphasized that all national avenues to hold the regime responsible have already been exhausted, because the judiciary, including the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), is subordinated by the executive branch. Furthermore, the letter highlighted that with the recent decision of the TSJ to keep disqualify the main opposition candidate, María Corina Machado, an electoral solution is not possible.

"After hindering the electoral process, the regime only has the option of continuing to repress a hungry and cornered population, escalating violence and committing more crimes against humanity, that is, triggering bloodshed," the Madrid Forum warned in its release.

María Corina Machado calls for global protest

The opposition leader is also leading her own efforts to prevent Nicolás Maduro's dictatorship from continuing repressing citizens and preventing free elections to take place. On Friday, Machado asked all Venezuelans living around the world to protest to demand that her candidacy for the presidency be recognized.

Machado, who obtained more than 92% of the votes in the opposition primaries, explained through a video on X that the intention is to demonstrate Sunday in different cities around the world.

“The Venezuelans who are abroad and who want their country free, ... this Sunday, Feb. 4, raise their voices because we demand that the persecution of those of us who are here fighting for clean and free elections stop, release the political prisoners, because we demand that a date be set for the presidential election,” she stated, highlighting that presidential candidates must be chosen by their citizens and not by Nicolás Maduro himself.