Brazil urges Venezuela to respect democracy

The Brazilian government, by means of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, urged Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to show “moderation” and “respect” in the defense of democracy. In the note, issued Wednesday (Jun. 20), Brazil describes opposition as fundamental.

The government reiterated its stance against all forms of political violence in Venezuela and any other country, and calls for moderation and respect for the rights of the opposition, “without which democracy is made impossible.”

The message comes following suspicions against ousted deputy María Corina Machado, 49 years old. A former presidential hopeful, Corina was stripped of office after criticizing the government.

“It was with great concern that the Brazilian government learned that the Venezuelan government is seeking to associate María Corina Machado—one of the most fierce opposition leaders in that country—with an attack alleged to be carried out by a group of military agents against President Nicolás Maduro or a high-ranking military official.”

Early this month, Corina met with Colombia’s President-elect Ivan Duque to mount efforts in favor of Venezuela’s political freedom. In July 2017, she filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Maduro for crimes of torture and segregation.