 Reports of torture, extrajudicial killings, and judicial interference over the past year have caused the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open a Crimes Against Humanity investigation against leaders of the Venezuelan State. According to Defiende Venezuela, from July to December 2022, officials from security forces, such as the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service arbitrarily detained, persecuted, and tortured political and human rights activists. Although these crimes have been reported, the perpetrators have not been held accountable. Court hearings have been indefinitely postponed, and charges against the police have been dropped without explanation. In this context, there have been significant advances in the work of the ICC. The mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission has been renewed and the ICC has opened a victim reporting form. Defiende Venezuela recommends that Civil Society keep state actions under close observation in the framework of non-compliance with the MOU between Venezuela and the ICC. |
I. Introduction
From July to December 2022, some events occurred in Venezuela that may be of interest in the context of the investigation of Venezuela by the International Criminal Court. In just six months, officials from security forces, such as the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service, detained, persecuted as well as tortured political and human rights activists and others through extrajudicial executions.
Likewise, in regard to governmental measures, the Venezuelan Government appointed a new diplomatic representative before the ICC. He is one of the most prominent politicians within the ruling party and the current Justice on leave from the Supreme Court of Justice. In addition, the Attorney General of the Republic of Venezuela offered the number of defendants that the Public Prosecutor's Office has prosecuted in cases of human rights violations.
Finally, in this context, there have been significant advances in the work of international organizations. For example, the mandate of the Fact-Finding Mission was renewed; the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested the resumption of the investigation into Venezuela; the Pre-Trial Chamber established the process to be followed in the case of Venezuela; and the Victims Participation and Reparations Section opened a form for victims of crimes against humanity to submit their observations and opinions on the resumption of the investigation into Venezuela.
This biannual report is prepared to follow up on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Venezuela and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, in which the government commits to take measures to ensure the proper administration of justice, in accordance with the principle of complementarity.
II. Methodology
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