The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said Tuesday that, after an operation he described as “precise“, tWhys “retained” opponents in the residence of Argentina in Caracas were rescued and are safe in the territory of the United States.
In a message on his X account, Rubio added that the United States celebrates the “successful rescue” of the five Venezuelans, collaborators of the opposition leader María Corina Machado, which were found since March of 2024 refugees at the diplomatic headquarters after the Prosecutor’s Office accused them of conspiracy and orders for capture against them were issued.
Another opposition advisor who lived in the residence, Fernando Martínez, gave himself before the Prosecutor’s Office in December and died in February at home, according to the opposition.
Rubio did not give details of the operation, and Machado said in another message on the social network that it was an “impeccable and epic” operation.
“We are going to free each of our 900 prisoners,” Machado added in reference to different politicians and activists who have been arrested in the last year.
The departure of the Machado collaborators of the Argentine Residence, which was under the protection of Brazil after Buenos Aires cut relations with Caracas in July, It occurred while President Nicolás Maduro is in Moscow for commemorative acts of the 80th anniversary of victory against Nazism in World War II.
The Brazilian government, which had been providing political protection to the embassy, said it had not been informed of the operation.
For his part, Argentine President Javier Milei expressed his recognition of the successful operation and thanked those involved, especially the US Secretary of State.
“The National Government deeply values the efforts made to guarantee the security and well -being of those who for a long time were under Argentine protection of the persecution of the Nicolás Maduro regime,” said the president’s office in X.
“This action represents an important step in defense of the freedom of the region,” he added.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Communication did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
