Venezuelan legal experts, jurists, and international law doctors are pushing forward the case against the Venezuelan State at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Soranib Hernández and her husband, Simón Pedro Deffendini, both international law doctors, are working to urge the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, to proceed with an arrest warrant against Nicolás Maduro, as he has done with Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and most recently, Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar’s military junta.
In an interview with El Nacional, Hernández expressed concern about certain organizations’ actions delaying progress in the Venezuela case before the court. She specifically explained that the request to disqualify the ICC prosecutor on allegations of a potential conflict of interest could cause delays in accessing justice. Paolina Massidda, the lead attorney at the Independent Office for the Defense of Victims of the International Criminal Court, requested that this disqualification request not affect the investigation into crimes against humanity in Venezuela.
Hernández noted that the disqualification request was not made correctly and should be addressed during the trial phase, which has not yet been reached. She emphasized the importance of proper coordination with legal experts to avoid further delays in the case.
Regarding the key issue of an agreement between the European Union and the ICC, Hernández and her husband recently appealed to the European Parliament to activate cooperation with the ICC to advance the investigation into Venezuela and order Maduro’s arrest for the serious crimes committed in 2014, 2017, and 2024.
Hernández emphasized the need for justice for the victims and highlighted the importance of the ICC’s continued progress in addressing human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
She expressed her confidence in the ICC’s commitment to advancing justice and ensuring accountability for the victims, despite potential diplomatic and political pressures.
