Brazilian MPs announced they would denounce Nicolás Maduro before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity

The Brazilian Congressional Social Security and Family Commission (CSSF), made up of federal deputies, has indicated that a complaint will be lodged next week at the International Court in The Hague against the dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.

The Commission arrived in Roraima, on the border with Venezuela, to visit the town of Pacaraima and take a closer look at the situation of the migration crisis.

Federal MP Hiran Gonçalves stressed that Maduro should be punished for the acts committed in the neighboring country. “Next week we will immediately submit a complaint against humanity to the International Court in The Hague. I hope he will be punished for all the harm he causes to his people, ”Hiran said.

The requester, MP Leandre Dal Ponte, Paraná, stressed the importance of the state visit. “We are here to identify the seriousness of the problem, in terms of responsibility, that we must look for instruments of power, to contribute to this humanitarian crisis,” said Léandre.

Federal MP Hiran Gonçalves said CSSF lawmakers should closely monitor the situation of the migration crisis. “We have the support of these parliamentarians to find solutions to this problem facing Roraima. The problem of the migration crisis affects all of Brazil, not just our State, ”he said.

The delegation was joined by federal deputies Giovani Cherini, from Rio Grande do Sul; Carmen Zanotto, from Santa Catarina; Leandre Dal Ponte, from Paraná and Paula Belmonte, from the Federal District. The meeting was also attended by Federal MPs from Roraima, Hiran Gonçalves and Haroldo Catedral.

The Chavist dictator is already facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court. In fact, last August, the ICC prosecutor’s office confirmed that Nicolás Maduro’s regime had committed crimes against humanity in Venezuela and said those crimes should be investigated.

“The Prosecutor has concluded that the available information provides a reasonable basis to believe that since at least April 2017, civilian authorities, members of the armed forces and pro-government persons have committed crimes against humanity of imprisonment or death. other serious deprivation of physical liberty. in violation of fundamental norms of international law ”, according to the report on the preliminary examination activities that Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the ICC until last June, left to his successor Karim Khan.

The Prosecutor also concluded that the cases which may arise from an investigation into these alleged crimes “would be admissible in accordance with article 17 (1) (a) – (d) of the Rome Statute”, the constituent instrument of the International Criminal Court Court. .

The report states that “after a comprehensive and independent process, which has benefited from the continued cooperation of the Government of Venezuela, as well as other interested parties, the Prosecutor has concluded that there is a reasonable basis for believing that the crimes of the Court’s competition were committed in Venezuela ”.

Among the crimes committed by the forces of the Chavist regime, the report cites cases of torture, sexual violence and persecution for political reasons.

Those responsible for these crimes were, according to the ICC prosecutor, the Bolivarian National Police, the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN), the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), the Special Action Forces (FAES) , the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (CICPC), the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), the National Command against Extortion and Kidnapping (CONAS) and other units of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces ( FANB).

“In addition, the information available indicates that persons linked to the government have also participated in the crackdown on real or suspected opponents of the government of Venezuela, acting mainly with members of the security forces or with their consent,” the report adds.

According to the prosecution, the cases arising from an investigation into the situation in Venezuela will be admissible before the ICC “in terms of inaction”, that is to say because of the unwillingness of the Chavista regime to prosecute the cases. allegations of violations. . This would comply with the principle of complementarity, one of the requirements which provokes the intervention of the Court when a country does not or cannot judge the facts falling within the jurisdiction of the Court.

“The authorities are not really prepared to investigate and / or prosecute these cases. This is because, according to the information available, internal processes have been launched or national decisions have been taken with the aim of protecting people from criminal liability, ”the report states.

Also, a few days ago the new report of the United Nations Independent International Mission for Venezuela was known, which accuses the country’s judicial system of not being independent, which could speed up the process of the International Criminal Court on possible violations of human rights. ‘man.

The report denounces practices such as using evidence allegedly obtained under torture and issuing “retroactive” arrest warrants to cover up illegal arrests.

The mission, created by the Council in 2019 and which is now releasing its second report on the situation in Venezuela, also believes that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that high-level Venezuelan politicians have significantly influenced the justice system in Venezuela. country.

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