Venezuela Starts a New Feud, This Time Against the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Orders Office in Country Closed

Venezuela has ordered the local technical advisory office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be closed. This comes after the country was accused of further human rights violations that involved the sudden abduction of a human rights activist and the Nicolas Maduro regime's latest attempts at suppressing the country's united opposition.

The Venezuelan government gave the staff of the local United Nations office on human rights just 72 hours to leave and to suspend all of its operations in the country. The UN human rights body has been accused of "assisting coup plotters and terrorist groups."

This was confirmed by Venezuela Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil during a news conference in Caracas. The move received much criticism from various rights groups, especially as the Maduro regime has been accused of repressing real or perceived opponents during an election year like 2024.

Gil accused the UN human rights body of becoming an "international sounding board to maintain a discourse against the Bolivarian government and against the Venezuelan people."

The foreign affairs minister of Venezuela added that the local UN human rights office had "become the private law firm of coup plotters and terrorist groups that permanently conspire against the country," though the Associated Press noted that he did not show any evidence or point to a specific example of that alleged activity.

The closure came after more and more rights groups called for the release of recently imprisoned Rocio San Miguel, a prominent human rights advocate and lawyer. The UN agency had reportedly expressed "deep concern" over her detention last Tuesday, urging for her "immediate release" and respect for her right to legal defense.

UN Human Rights Office Reacts to Expulsion Order From Venezuela

This latest feud comes as Venezuela is currently at odds with the United States over Maduro breaking his promise of a free and fair presidential election this year, as well as Guyana, which currently complains about a troop build-up on its border with the country. The UN has become Maduro's latest target, and the rights body has now reacted.

"We regret this announcement and are evaluating the next steps. We continue to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders," UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. "Our guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela."

According to The Guardian, the UN human rights office was established in Caracas in 2019.

International Rights Group Says Detained Venezuela Human Rights Lawyer Has No Legal Access

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has revealed that Rocio San Miguel "has had no access to family members or legal representation" since she was detained. The international rights group then called for her immediate release.

"She is forcibly disappeared, resembling a widely documented pattern. The Attorney General's Office publicly acknowledged her detention but has denied information on her whereabouts. Her lawyers have requested information at detention centers in Caracas and have so far received no response," the rights group said in a statement on its official website.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Venezuela orders U.N. Human Rights office to close - Associated Press