TODAY VENEZUELA – “The way the US blackmails, threatens, and buys off public prosecutors in Latin America to hinder justice and satisfy its interests is vulgar,” said Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Delcy Rodríguez on her Twitter account on Wednesday. Reference was made to the statements issued on Tuesday evening by former public prosecutor Franklin Nieves, who stressed that the Executive Office and the National Assembly had “kidnapped” all State powers and reasserted that the evidence used to convict dissenter leader Leopoldo López was “100% false.”
The foreign minister further rejected the remarks of US State Department spokesperson John Kirby regarding the statements made by former prosecutor Nieves. “If true, these statements highlight the lack of judicial independence and adherence to due process in Venezuela,” Kirby said in a press statement on Tuesday.
“We call on the Venezuelan government to respect the rights of all political prisoners; and to guarantee fair and transparent public trial, consistent with the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Venezuela’s Constitution,” the US official added.
“Venezuela rejects the insolent remarks of the US State Department spokesperson John Kirby, who attacks the powers of our homeland,” Minister Rodríguez posted.
“The US dares to talk about lack of judicial independence in Venezuela, and in that country, the president nominates top justices,” she added.
