Venezuelan opposition figures trapped in Argentine embassy speak for first time since leaving it
CARACAS—Five Venezuelan opposition figures who had taken refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas for over a year appeared in public Saturday for the first time since leaving the diplomatic compound. Now in the United States, they described their flight from Venezuela as part of an “unprecedented” and ongoing rescue operation.
The Venezuelan government denies it was a rescue, claiming that it was part of a negotiation.
“Our rescue, our escape, was an unprecedented operation,” said Magalli Meda during a press conference in Washington. Meda is a member of the opposition group Vente Venezuela, led by opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Meda, along with Pedro Urruchurtu, Claudia Macero, Humberto Villalobos, Omar González and Fernando Martínez Mottola, took shelter in the Argentine diplomatic residence in Caracas for 412 days after Venezuelan prosecutors ordered their arrest.
They were accused of encouraging alleged violent acts aimed at destabilizing the government of President Nicolás Maduro which was cracking down on dissent following contested elections last year.
Since late November, the group had reported being constantly watched by intelligence agents and police outside the diplomatic residence. They also accused the Maduro government of cutting off water and electricity to the compound–accusations the government has denied.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that “after a precise operation, all the hostages are now safe on U.S. soil.”
