Resolution on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela

The European Parliament adopted by 497 votes to 22, with 27 abstentions, a resolution on the case of Rocío San Miguel and General Hernández Da Costa, among other political prisoners in Venezuela.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, Renew and ECR groups.

As a reminder, on 9 February 2024, Rocío San Miguel, a lawyer and human rights activist with Spanish nationality, was kidnapped by the Venezuelan regime, and sentenced on politically motivated grounds of suspected conspiracy against Nicolás Maduro and his regime. She is currently being detained in El Helicoide prison, which is known for human rights abuses, including torture.

Parliament strongly condemned the Maduro regime for imprisoning hundreds of political prisoners and demanded the immediate unconditional release of all political prisoners and arbitrarily detained persons, and the full restoration of their rights.

The Chilean authorities are urged to fully investigate the murder of Ronald Ojeda, a former political prisoner who escaped the Maduro regime. The Venezuelan authorities, for their part, are urged to reinstate the OHCHR and guarantee its access to prisons, as well as guarantee unhindered access to the UN special procedure mandate-holders.

Members also urged the International Criminal Court to include ongoing human rights violations and arbitrary detentions in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the Maduro regime. Parliament called on the international community to support a return to democracy in Venezuela, particularly in view of the elections, in which the leader of the opposition to the regime, María Corina Machado, shall fully participate.

Lastly, the VP/HR and the Council are urged to increase sanctions on the regime, including high-level officials, members of the security forces and the regime’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice, and Maduro himself.