Venezuela opposition members who lived in embassy now in US, Rubio says

(The News Pulse) - On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his approval over the successful liberation of everyone detained as "hostages" by Venezuela’s government inside Argentina's embassy in Caracas.

"After a meticulous operation, all hostages are now securely on American soil," Rubio stated on Twitter.

The five individuals, who are close associates of opposition leader Maria Corina Machada, have resided within the embassy since March 2024. This followed accusations from Venezuela’s attorney general alleging they had conspired against the government, resulting in arrest warrants being issued for them.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Information did not promptly reply to requests for comments. The Brazilian government, which was offering political asylum at the embassy, stated they were not yet notified.

In December 2024, Fernando Martinez, an additional opposition advisor who was residing at the embassy, turned himself over to the prosecutor’s office. He passed away earlier this year in February.

Government officials frequently charge the opposition with collaborating with nations like the United States to carry out acts of terror, topple Maduro’s government, and assault Venezuela's electrical infrastructure. However, the opposition consistently refutes these allegations.

The residence of Argentina is presently under Brazilian control following Buenos Aires severing ties with Caracas due to elections.

Maduro was announced as the victor by both the election officials and the nation’s highest court; however, they have refrained from providing vote counts at each polling station.

(Reported by Natalia Siniawski, Julia Symmes Cobb, Lisandra Paraguassu, and Jasper Ward; Edited by Sarah Morland)