Americas

Venezuelan attorney general criticizes Petro over call to free Colombian detainees

Tensions escalate as Venezuelan prosecutor rejects Colombian president’s call for prisoner releases

Laura Gamba  | 17.01.2025 - Update : 17.01.2025
Venezuelan attorney general criticizes Petro over call to free Colombian detainees

BOGOTA, Colombia

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab sharply criticized President Gustavo Petro on Thursday after the Colombian head of state called for the release of all individuals detained in Venezuela before and after Venezuela's recent elections.

"Dear President, I do not see the Head of State Nicolas Maduro Moros interfering in Colombia's internal affairs...With all due respect, I urge you to deal with Colombia, which has multiple and serious problems. Here, we'll deal with our own," he said.

Petro responded to Saab’s remarks.

"Let's deal with the great problems of humanity, our region and our peoples," he wrote on X. "I am responsible for the lives and dignity of a million Venezuelans residing in Colombia, and you are similarly responsible for the lives and dignity of millions of Colombians living in Venezuela."

The exchange began when Petro celebrated the release of Carlos Correa, the director of Espacio Publico, a Venezuelan NGO specializing in documenting human rights violations, who was arrested in the capital Caracas several days prior. Petro then called upon the Maduro government to release all individuals detained "in the context" of the Venezuelan elections, including 12 Colombians detained in Venezuelan territory.

“Human rights defender Carlos Correa has been released in Venezuela. When the truce between (the Palestinian group) Hamas and Israel involves the release of hundreds of hostages on each side and when Cuba has released more than 500 prisoners, it becomes essential for the peace of the Americas that Venezuela release all individuals detained in the context of the elections and post-elections, including the 12 Colombians detained in its territory. May the Americas be a land of freedom without political prisoners," Petro wrote on X.

While Correa was released from prison on Jan. 16, no details regarding the identities of the 12 Colombian citizens allegedly detained in Venezuela have been publicly disclosed.

Saab responded to Petro, alleging that a foreign company hired mercenaries trained in Colombia to attack Venezuela, despite the presence of Colombian authorities. He further said that no one has been prosecuted for these alleged actions.

"Respected President, with whom I once shared meetings and ideals of emancipation for our great homeland: Venezuela has been and continues to be threatened from Colombian territory by criminal narco-paramilitary groups that control significant portions of Colombian territory," the statement issued by the Venezuelan Public Prosecutor's office said.​​​​​​​

"In the weeks leading up to President Nicolas Maduro's inauguration, dozens of mercenaries were apprehended entering our territory from Colombia. Are the security agencies of your country unaware of who enters and exits your own borders?"

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