Guyana and Suriname, both CARICOM members, have joined a broad international call for “wisdom and restraint” in addressing Venezuela’s political crisis. At a meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on August 18, 2024, these countries aligned with 17 others and the European Union (EU) in a joint statement expressing grave concern over the fallout from Venezuela’s contentious July 28 presidential election.

The joint statement, also signed by Argentina, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Portugal, Uruguay, and the United States, urged all Venezuelan social and political actors to exercise the utmost restraint. “At this decisive juncture for Venezuela and the region, all social and political actors must exercise the utmost restraint in their public actions,” the statement read.

The signatories stressed the need to respect democratic principles, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, including peaceful assembly and expression. They expressed alarm over reports of arbitrary detentions and called for the immediate release of detainees held without due process.

The statement condemned the repression of protesters and the resultant loss of life, urging Venezuelan authorities to end the violence and release all detained individuals, including opposition members. It also called for the return of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Venezuela and for conditions to be created that would enable the office to perform its mandate effectively.

The statement highlighted discrepancies between the preliminary UN Expert Panel report and the official results declared by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), noting that over 80% of electoral records showed a different outcome than that announced by the CNE. The signatories demanded the immediate publication of all original records and an impartial verification of the results.

The group reiterated its support for a peaceful, Venezuelan-led solution to the crisis, emphasizing the importance of national reconciliation, peace, and democratic stability. “We are committed to supporting all efforts in this direction, advocating for a genuinely Venezuelan solution where democracy, justice, and peace will prevail,” the statement concluded.

The U.S. and international observers support the claim that opposition leader González Urrutia won, despite the CNE’s rapid and unsupported declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner.

The G7 Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative have also expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, calling for transparency and a peaceful, democratic resolution to the crisis. They emphasized the need for a credible electoral process and urged maximum restraint within Venezuela.

The United Nations expressed “deep concern” over reports of human rights abuses and violence following the election, stressing that any use of force must adhere to international human rights standards. Similarly, the Organization of American States (OAS) criticized the Venezuelan regime’s repressive actions and electoral manipulation.

Amnesty International has called for urgent action from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address severe human rights violations and crimes against humanity in Venezuela. The organization has urged ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to accelerate investigations and support Venezuelan human rights defenders.

As the crisis unfolds, the international community remains vigilant, committed to supporting Venezuelan efforts to restore democratic norms and address the humanitarian challenges facing the nation.