Former President of Colombia Andrés Pastrana on Saturday claimed that Venezuela is facing a “coup d’état” following the country’s disputed 2024 presidential elections. The leader of the IDEA group, a coalition of 31 former heads of government from countries in Latin America, emphasized the urgency of international intervention, specifically calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to protect the civilian population of Venezuela from ongoing abuses.

Pastrana’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of the Venezuelan government’s actions, which have been criticized for human rights violations and suppression of political dissent. He argues that the situation in Venezuela warrants serious international attention and intervention, suggesting that the ICC has a critical role to play in safeguarding the rights of Venezuelans.

The ICC’s involvement in the country began in February 2018 when the court announced preliminary probes into alleged crimes against humanity. This decision followed referrals from several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, which cited widespread abuses occurring since at least 2014. The investigation was officially opened in November 2021 after a thorough preliminary examination led by ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, which documented allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, and political persecution.

In April 2022, Venezuela requested the ICC to defer its investigation, claiming that domestic efforts were underway. However, the ICC found that these domestic proceedings were inadequate and primarily targeted low-level offenders, failing to address high-level officials’ roles in systematic abuses. In June 2023, the ICC resumed its investigation after a temporary suspension. In August 2024, Amnesty International (AI) released an open letter urging the ICC to prioritize justice for victims of human rights abuses in Venezuela and emphasizing the need for accountability and action against those responsible for crimes against humanity.