Venezuela revokes Brazil's authorization to represent Argentina's interests in the country By Reuters
Written by Lisandra Paraguassu
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Venezuela has revoked Brazil's authorization to represent Argentina's interests in the country, including running an embassy where six opposition groups have taken refuge, the Venezuelan government said on Saturday.
In a statement, Venezuela said the decision was made “immediately” and was due to evidence that the embassy was being used to organize attempts to kill President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez Gomez.
Government representatives for Brazil and Argentina did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A source told Reuters that Brazil responded, saying it would continue to represent Argentina's interests unless another country was appointed, with Argentina's consent.
On Friday night, some dissident members of the Argentine residence reported on their X accounts that the building was under surveillance and had no electricity. They posted videos showing men in black and patrols from the state intelligence agency, SEBIN.
In March, six people sought asylum at the Argentine embassy in Caracas after a prosecutor ordered their arrest on charges including conspiracy. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado dismissed the allegations against her colleagues.
On Friday, Argentina's Foreign Ministry asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Nicolas Maduro and other senior government officials in connection with events that took place after the July elections.
Venezuela severed ties with Argentina following its disputed presidential election on July 28. Brazil, like Colombia and Mexico, has asked the Venezuelan government to publish the full results of the vote.
The government has not yet done so and the country's election authorities have announced that President Nicolas Maduro has won re-election for a third term.
(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Additional reporting by Jorge Otaola in Buenos Aires Writing by Vivian Sequera and Alexander Villegas, Editing by Franklin Paul)
