BUENOS AIRES, May 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — 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.
Richard Blanco of the Brave Peoples’ Alliance party entered Argentina’s embassy, according to an Argentine foreign ministry source while Americo De Grazia of the Radical Cause party sought refuge at Italy’s embassy.
The moves came the day after authorities arrested Edgar Zambrano, the opposition-run National Assembly’s vice president.
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 recognise the Supreme Court’s decisions since they say Maduro has stocked it with his own supporters. The US government has threatened to impose sanctions on all of the court’s members.
“He (Blanco) is there as a guest, we can confirm that,” an Argentine foreign ministry official said, on condition of anonymity.
Guaido invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, arguing Maduro’s 2018 reelection was illegitimate. About 50 countries, including the United States and much of Latin America, have recognised Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader.
Maduro’s government has so far avoided arresting Guaido, which would likely provoke a strong international backlash. But the recent measures suggest the ruling Socialist Party is seeking to isolate him by pursuing key political allies.
Guaido said at a news conference, called for Venezuelans to take to the streets on Saturday for fresh protests against Maduro.
Other Guaido allies have already been jailed or fled to the embassies of sympathetic nations. Guaido’s chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, was arrested in March and remains in jail.
Last week, Leopoldo Lopez – Guaido’s political mentor – moved into Spain’s diplomatic residence after escaping house arrest to appear alongside Guaido during his call for the military to rise up. — NNN-AGENCIES
