Venezuela on Monday banned flights from neighbouring Colombia after Venezuelans authorities detained 38 people, including foreign nationals, for an alleged "anti-government" conspiracy, ahead of the upcoming legislative and regional elections.
Venezuelan interior minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television the flight ban is with "immediate" effect and would last beyond May 25, when voters across the country are expected to elect governors and National Assembly members.
"The anti-government plans involved placing explosives at embassies and other facilities in Venezuela. We have detained 21 Venezuelans and 17 foreigners, some of whom hold Colombian, Mexican and Ukrainian citizenship," news agency AP quoted him as saying.
Cabello, without offering any evidence, further claimed the group included experts in explosive devices, human smugglers and mercenaries. They were working with members of Venezuela's political opposition, he alleged.
"The scenario they want to present is that there are no conditions in Venezuela for holding an election," Cabello said, referring to the opposition.
Later, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during a televised meeting with leaders of the military and security forces, alleged members of an Albanian crime organisation involved in drug trafficking in Ecuador were also linked to the so-called plot.
The arrests were announced just as an independent panel of experts backed by the Organization of American States released a report documenting "serious human rights abuses" in the South American nation as the government tightened its grip on dissent after the July 2024 presidential election.
Around two weeks ago, members of Venezuela's opposition left the country after having lived at a diplomatic compound in the capital, Caracas, for more than a year to avoid arrest. The opposition led by María Corina Machado, described the departure as an "international rescue operation," as did US secretary of state Marco Rubio. However, Cabello said the opposition group left Venezuela through a "negotiation" with the Maduro government.
Machado has called on Venezuelans to boycott the upcoming election, almost 10 months since the presidential contest which electoral authorities claimed Maduro won despite credible evidence to the contrary. Several countries do not recognize his victory and have broken diplomatic relations with his government, disrupting commercial air travel.
'Flights to resume day after election': Colombia
On the other hand, Colombia's ministry of foreign affairs said it was notified by the Venezuelan government flights would resume the day after the election.
The foreign ministry also stated it did not have regarding the detention of Colombian citizens in Venezuela.
Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, resumed his country's diplomatic relations with Venezuela after taking office in 2022 and becoming an ally of Venezuelan counterpart Maduro.
Venezuelan interior minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television the flight ban is with "immediate" effect and would last beyond May 25, when voters across the country are expected to elect governors and National Assembly members.
"The anti-government plans involved placing explosives at embassies and other facilities in Venezuela. We have detained 21 Venezuelans and 17 foreigners, some of whom hold Colombian, Mexican and Ukrainian citizenship," news agency AP quoted him as saying.
Cabello, without offering any evidence, further claimed the group included experts in explosive devices, human smugglers and mercenaries. They were working with members of Venezuela's political opposition, he alleged.
"The scenario they want to present is that there are no conditions in Venezuela for holding an election," Cabello said, referring to the opposition.
Later, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, during a televised meeting with leaders of the military and security forces, alleged members of an Albanian crime organisation involved in drug trafficking in Ecuador were also linked to the so-called plot.
The arrests were announced just as an independent panel of experts backed by the Organization of American States released a report documenting "serious human rights abuses" in the South American nation as the government tightened its grip on dissent after the July 2024 presidential election.
Around two weeks ago, members of Venezuela's opposition left the country after having lived at a diplomatic compound in the capital, Caracas, for more than a year to avoid arrest. The opposition led by María Corina Machado, described the departure as an "international rescue operation," as did US secretary of state Marco Rubio. However, Cabello said the opposition group left Venezuela through a "negotiation" with the Maduro government.
Machado has called on Venezuelans to boycott the upcoming election, almost 10 months since the presidential contest which electoral authorities claimed Maduro won despite credible evidence to the contrary. Several countries do not recognize his victory and have broken diplomatic relations with his government, disrupting commercial air travel.
'Flights to resume day after election': Colombia
On the other hand, Colombia's ministry of foreign affairs said it was notified by the Venezuelan government flights would resume the day after the election.
The foreign ministry also stated it did not have regarding the detention of Colombian citizens in Venezuela.
Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, resumed his country's diplomatic relations with Venezuela after taking office in 2022 and becoming an ally of Venezuelan counterpart Maduro.
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