Venezuelan lawmakers seek refuge in embassies

Two Venezuelan lawmakers sought refuge at foreign embassies in Caracas on Thursday, as the government of President Nicolas Maduro cracked down on allies of opposition leader Juan Guaido who supported his attempted uprising last week.

The moves came the day after authorities arrested Edgar Zambrano, the opposition-run National Assembly’s vice president.

Richard Blanco of the Brave Peoples’ Alliance party entered Argentina’s embassy on Thursday while Americo De Grazia of the Radical Cause party sought refuge at Italy’s embassy.

Daily life in Caracas
A person walks in front of a graffiti against the president of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro in the center of Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: EPA-EFE/Raul Martinez

Blanco, Zambrano and De Grazia were among 10 lawmakers stripped of congressional immunity by the Supreme Court this week, which said the legislators should be investigated for crimes including conspiracy, treason and rebellion. Marianella Magallanes, another lawmaker, took refuge in the Italian embassy on Wednesday.

The opposition do not recognize the Supreme Court’s decisions since they say Maduro has stocked it with his own supporters. The U.S. government has threatened to impose sanctions on all of the court’s members.

Via Reuters

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