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News > Venezuela

Venezuela Embassy Activists in Washington DC Set Free

  • The four activists have been charged with a Class A Misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a US$1,000 fine.

    The four activists have been charged with a Class A Misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a US$1,000 fine. | Photo: teleSUR

Published 17 May 2019
Opinion

David, Margaret, Adrienne, and Paul of the Embassy Protection Collective are now free.

Activists from the Embassy Protection Collective who were forcefully removed from the Venezuelan embassy in Washington D.C. were freed today. They will appear again before a judge on June 12.

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US Police Illegally Invade Venezuelan Embassy, Arrest 4 Remaining Activists

They have been charged with a Class A Misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a US$1,000 fine.  

One of the formerly detained activists, Adrienne Pine, told teleSUR, “Basically, that we were there in the embassy illegally because they recognize the ‘imaginary’ government of (Juan) Guaido, but we know that we were there perfectly legally.”

The four activists occupied the Venezuelan embassy in Washinton D.C. for 37 days, defending it against U.S. authorities and the Venezuelan opposition since mid-April. To retaliate, U.S. and opposition forces sought to cut electricity and water services to the building, as well as prevent food from entering by keeping a siege on the premises daily.

Witnesses at the scene said it was clear the activists had lost weight.

On Thursday,  U.S. security forces gave the four activists 30 seconds notice before charging "violently" into the Venezuelan building, Pine said, citing the various state agencies present at the scene.

Despite the pending charges, Pine said she feels no regrets.

"I feel very satisfied for having fought against the U.S. empire, fascists, and neoliberals.

“I am here … the people of Venezuela have my complete solidarity and my admiration and my respect and we will not stop counting at 37 days; we are going to continue fighting to impede other wars in Latin American,” she said.

The forced entry was criticized by many as a breach of several articles of the Vienna Convention and international law.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejected the embassy raid as, "a brutal act against international law and lack of respect for embassies in the world."

The Venezuelan head of state said he gave instructions to take its complaint of the event to the highest authorities and is expecting U.N. member states to make declarations against this violation.

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