CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥 Venezuela鈥檚 government on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that members of the country鈥檚 opposition left the Argentine diplomatic compound where they had sheltered for over a year, but it denied that their arrival to the United States occurred under an international rescue operation as characterized by the political faction and the U.S. State Department.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the group鈥檚 movements were negotiated with the government and further alleged that one of the six people who entered the Argentine ambassador鈥檚 residence in March left the compound in August, contradicting earlier statements from the opposition.
Cabello鈥檚 statements came more than 24 hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media that the opposition members were on U.S. soil after a 鈥渟uccessful rescue.鈥
The government of Argentine President Javier Milei allowed the six people into the ambassador鈥檚 residence when authorities loyal to Venezuela鈥檚 ruling party issued warrants for their arrest, accusing them of promoting acts of violence to destabilize the country. The group included the campaign manager and communications director of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado as well as Fernando Martinez, a cabinet minister in the 1990s.
and, according to Venezuelan authorities, appeared before prosecutors. He died in February.
After Rubio鈥檚 announcement Tuesday, Machado thanked people involved in what she called an 鈥渋mpeccable and epic operation for the Freedom of five heroes of Venezuela.鈥 But Cabello alleged that only four people remained at the embassy after Martinez鈥檚 departure.
Since late November, the group had denounced the constant presence of intelligence service agents and police outside the residence. It had also accused the government of cutting electricity and water services to the compound. The government had denied the allegations.
