National Assembly Responds to UN Human Rights Remarks

Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously voted on Tuesday to declare United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk persona non grata, after he publicly criticized the Venezuelan government for alleged human rights violations.

The decision came in response to Türk’s address last week before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, in which he condemned Venezuela for reported arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances, raising international concerns over the country’s human rights record.

Assembly President Accuses Türk of Bias

In remarks leading up to the vote, Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez accused Türk of selectively condemning Venezuela while “turning a blind eye” to abuses elsewhere — specifically pointing to the deportation of Venezuelan migrants from the United States to detention facilities in El Salvador.

Rodríguez claimed that Türk failed to acknowledge these incidents, framing the UN official’s comments as politically biased interference.

Türk Had Previously Expressed Concern Over Deportations

Despite the Assembly’s criticism, Türk had already addressed the issue of deportations. In May, he released a formal statement expressing concern about the treatment of Venezuelan migrants, including their deportation to potentially unsafe conditions.

His more recent comments about Venezuela came amid renewed scrutiny of the country’s internal situation, especially following a crackdown on political opposition in the wake of a disputed presidential election held in July.

International Concern Over Venezuela’s Human Rights Situation

Human rights organizations have consistently criticized the Venezuelan government for suppressing dissent and persecuting opposition figures. Türk’s comments in Geneva reflected those concerns, warning that Venezuela’s ongoing human rights situation could further destabilize its democratic institutions.

The declaration against Türk further strains relations between Caracas and the international community, particularly the UN