Venezuelans frustrated by the slow progress of the International Criminal Court have taken their case of alleged human rights abuses to a federal court in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This marks the first time that Venezuelans have sought justice outside their home country under the repressive rule of President Nicolás Maduro. The federal court in Buenos Aires concluded two days of testimony on Friday, as part of an investigation into probable human rights abuses committed by Venezuelan security forces in 2014.
Earlier this year, Argentine prosecutors revived a criminal complaint filed in 2023 by the Clooney Foundation for Justice on behalf of survivors and family members of those killed in what lawyers describe as a “systematic plan” by the Venezuelan state to suppress dissent. Prosecutors deemed the crimes committed by high-ranking members of the Venezuelan National Guard as of “extreme seriousness” and called for an immediate investigation.
Several individuals traveled from Venezuela to Argentina to testify during the pre-trial hearing, seeking justice after exhausting their options within their own country’s legal system. The International Criminal Court initiated an investigation into abuses in Venezuela in 2018, following a referral by five Latin American countries and Canada. However, progress has been slow, prompting human rights lawyers to pursue cases in national courts using the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Argentina, known for its favorable record in applying universal jurisdiction, has become committed to investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed in other countries. The Clooney Foundation chose to file its case in Argentina due to its proximity to Venezuela, a large community of Venezuelan immigrants, and its broad interpretation of universal jurisdiction. Under this principle, neither the defendants nor the plaintiffs need to be residents of the country where the trial is held.
While the process’s duration remains uncertain, the speed with which Argentina launched its investigation, just one month after the complaint was filed, is encouraging for the plaintiffs. Although the case is unlikely to result in arrests before Venezuela’s upcoming elections on July 28, any potential disputes in the Argentine courts could overshadow the vote.
The plaintiffs aim to see senior Venezuelan security officials extradited and standing trial in Buenos Aires. The Clooney Foundation has refrained from publicly naming the accused to avoid giving them advance notice of the case. The Argentine federal prosecutor handling the case, Carlos Stornelli, was unavailable for comment.
During the hearings, which lasted several hours on Thursday and Friday, the plaintiffs recounted the horrors they endured, leading to emotional breakdowns. However, they expressed a sense of hope in the Buenos Aires court on Friday.
