- This measure will allow detainees to have access to a lawyer
José Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, confirmed on Tuesday, October 8, that the Spanish government received authorization from the Venezuelan Executive for the two Spaniards who are detained in the national territory receive consular protection.
Albares, in an interview with the Basque channel ETB, referred to the situation of Andrés Martínez Adasme and José María Basoa Valdovinos, who are being accused of being part of an alleged operation directed by the United States to “assassinate Nicolás Maduro.”
Albares said on Friday, October 4, that he received a “note verbal” from the Venezuelan government authorizing him to offer the two Spanish citizens “consular protection,” which will allow them to have access to a lawyer.
The minister hopes that, with this decision, it will be possible for the two people to “return to their families in the Basque Country.”
The announcement of the arrest of two Spanish citizens occurred in the midst of diplomatic tension between Venezuela and Spain. This coincided with the arrival in Spain of the Venezuelan opponent Edmundo González, who requested asylum after denouncing fraud in the presidential elections of July 28, in which, according to Chavismo, he was re-elected as president.
What does consular protection entail?
The measure involves assistance to citizens abroad in cases of emergencies, legal problems or the need for documentation. The consulate can offer legal support, mediate with local authorities and help in situations such as arrests or illnesses, but it does not exempt the person from complying with the laws of the country where they are located.
Spain has undertaken efforts to achieve the release of Spanish citizens
Since the arrest of the Spaniards became known on September 15, the Spanish government insisted that the Venezuelan authorities allow them to confirm their identity, as well as the charges for which they were detained.
Likewise, on September 23, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Embassy in Venezuela indicated that “they continue working tirelessly” to release the two Spaniards detained in the country.
The delegate of the Spanish government in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia, stated that efforts to achieve the release of both citizens are made with absolute discretion.
What is known about the Spanish detainees
According to official information from the Venezuelan government, the detained Spaniards were identified as Adasme, 32 years old, and Basoa, 35 years old.
Both citizens are natives of the Basque town of Bilbao and were arrested in the state of Amazonas for their alleged connection with an alleged destabilizing operation against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
According to the relatives of the detained Spaniards, both were in Venezuela as tourists and on September 9, after losing track of them, they reported their disappearance on social networks and to the Spanish police.
Along with the two Spaniards, three American citizens and a Czech were also detained.
With information from EFE
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