Asylum seekers at the Argentine Embassy were extracted from Venezuela
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – 10:28 UTC
Rubio said that the five refugees were in American territory
Venezuelan opposition leaders Pedro Urruchurtu, Humberto Villalobos, Claudia Macero, Omar González and Magalí Meda, who were asslated in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas since March 20, 2024, left Venezuela, as reported on Tuesday.
The group of collaborators of María Corina Machado was extracted in a secret operation that involved the governments of the United States and Italy, with safe -conduct granted by the Chavista regime after negotiations. Tuesday’s operation was described as “impeccable and epic” by Machado and a “precise rescue” by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
The Argentine government of President Javier Milei celebrated the result and thanked Rubio, while highlighting the ongoing efforts to free the non -commissioned officer of the Argentine National Gendarmerie Nahuel Gallo, who has been detained for months in Venezuela.
“The five are outside of Venezuela and in complete security, although not all are in the same countries,” explained the five people sought by the Venezuelan prosecutor for the alleged crimes of betrayal of the homeland and conspiracy. However, according to Rubio, the five were in American territory.
“My infinite recognition and gratitude to all who made it possible. We are going to free each of our 900 prisoners for this tyranny,” Machado published on social networks. “And with freedom, the irreversible change will arrive towards a Venezuela of prosperity, justice and peace!”
“The United States celebrates the successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas,” Rubio wrote in X. “We extend our gratitude to all the personnel involved in this operation and our partners who helped ensure the safe liberation of these Venezuelan heroes,” he added.
During their stay in the diplomatic mission, the five refugees were systematically deprived of electricity, food and other basic services. When Argentina and Venezuela broke diplomatic relations after the recognition by Milei of the opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia as elected president, Brazil assumed the custody of the facilities.
“We will continue to work firmly in cooperation with our allies to achieve the release of the Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo, illegally kidnapped by the Venezuelan dictatorship. His freedom is a priority for this government and we will not cease until he achieved it,” said the office of the President of the Argentine Republic (Opra) in a statement.
Six people had initially requested asylum in the Argentine mission. However, in December, Fernando Martínez Mottola left the embassy for his own will with his health significantly deteriorated. He died in Caracas on February 26.
