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For its part, the Government of Argentina repudiated the decision of the Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office to process the request for an arrest warrant against Javier Milei.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Wednesday that he will ask the Venezuelan justice system for an arrest warrant against Argentine President Javier Milei in the case of a cargo plane confiscated in Buenos Aires and announced an investigation into human rights violations in that country.
The statement comes a day after an NGO and federal prosecutors asked the Argentine justice system to order the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as part of a case for crimes against humanity.
The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office “announces the assignment of two specialized prosecutors in the matter, who are carrying out the pertinent proceedings of the case and are processing the arrest warrant against the following citizens: Javier Milei, President of Argentina; Karina Milei , Secretary General of the Argentine Presidency; and Patricia Bullrich , Argentine Minister of Security,” Saab said at a press conference.
Saab said he will charge the accused with “aggravated robbery, money laundering, unlawful deprivation of liberty, simulation of a punishable act, unlawful interference, disabling of an aircraft and criminal association.”
Reaction of Javier Milei’s Government
“Argentina repudiates the arrest warrants (…) following the incident involving the Emtrasur aircraft,” the Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“The case in question was resolved by the judiciary, an independent power over which the executive cannot and should not have any influence, in accordance with an international agreement,” the ministry added.
The aircraft – held in Buenos Aires since June 2022 by a court order during the government of leftist Alberto Fernández – was sold to Venezuela by the sanctioned Iranian airline Mahan Air.
The ship was later seized by Argentine authorities when it arrived from Mexico with a shipment of automotive parts. The crew members – 14 Venezuelans and five Iranians – were detained and later released.
A judge authorized the seizure of the plane by the United States, which took place in February during Milei’s administration amid complaints of “theft” from Caracas.
Investigation into crimes against humanity
Saab also announced an investigation into crimes against humanity in the control of protests against the right-wing government, which he described as “genocide.”
“We have decided to appoint a prosecutor specializing in human rights to carry out the corresponding investigations” against Milei and Bullrich, he said.
“They will have to answer to justice,” Saab added. “A State can exercise universal jurisdiction.”
Venezuela is under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, prompted by excesses in opposition protests in 2017, which left more than a hundred dead. The Maduro government rejects this process.
Venezuela and Argentina have no relations. Maduro and Milei frequently criticize each other and exchange insults.
