“The decision of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Karim Khan, on November 3 is the best hope of justice for the victims of atrocities committed by State agents,” said the President of the Venezuelan NGO Control Ciudadano (Citizen Watch), Rocío San Miguel, after the announcement of the conclusion of the preliminary examination of the situation in Venezuela I and the opening of the investigation phase under the Rome Statute.
In this phase of investigation, it will be possible to document the facts and determine responsibilities for the commission of serious crimes against human rights in Venezuela.
The announcement of the opening of the investigation phase was made by Prosecutor Karim Khan after a 3-day visit to Venezuela at the invitation of the Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab.
“It is a clear and strong message for perpetrators, especially for high-ranking officials responsible for crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela. And it will undoubtedly have an important effect in the National Armed Forces, among other institutions” said San Miguel about the alleged perpetrators of the crimes that the ICC will investigate.
A commitment
According to a Memorandum of Understanding signed on November 3 between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Office of the ICC Prosecutor, Venezuela agreed to “establish mechanisms to enhance cooperation between the Parties and to facilitate the effective discharge of the Prosecutor’s mandate in the territory. of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.
“Based on the Memorandum of Understanding, the best gesture of cooperation with the ICC Prosecutor’s office from the Venezuela State is the prosecution of those most responsible for crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela and, of course, the initiation of institutional, legal, and administrative reforms to prevent the repetition of crimes against humanity in the country, ” San Miguel considered.
“We Venezuelans must be vigilant of the mandate of the cooperation agreement that has been signed today by the ICC Prosecutor’s office and the Venezuelan government,” concluded San Miguel.
Translated by José Rafael Medina
