Argentine government requests International Criminal Court detain Venezuela's Maduro

The Argentine government has further escalated its ongoing feud with its Venezuelan counterpart, taking matters from the rhetorical to formal scene after formally requesting President Nicolás Maduro be arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The petition was made through Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, who urged the body, already investigating the regime, to issue "arrest warrants against Venezuelan authorities, including Nicolás Maduro."

The letter claims there is already enough evidence in the ICC's investigation to issue the warrants as the process continues. The investigation was formally opened in late 2021 following the violent episodes in the aftermath of the contested 2017 elections after a formal request by Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.

"We've formally requested the ICC the detention of dictator Maduro," Mondino later said on X.

The international body has also been following the crackdown on dissent that followed the latest elections, also heavily contested as the government has failed to produce documentation to support its claim to victory.

In mid-August, the ICC said it's "actively monitoring" the events, with Prosecutor Karim Khan saying his office has received "multiple reports of instances of violence and other allegations following the presidential election of 28 July in Venezuela."

It went on to say that the office has "engaged with the Government of Venezuela at the highest-level to underline the importance of ensuring that the rule of law is adhered to in the present moment and emphasize that all personas must be protected from violations that may constitute Rome Statute crimes."

The office also pointed at a online portal where potential evidence can be filed, saying that "should any individual or organization have information that may be relevant to this ongoing investigation, we would welcome you to submit this."

Organization of American States Secretary Luis Almagro said in early August that the body should move forward and take action against Maduro himself: "It is time to file indictment charges against those most responsible, including Maduro, who announced a bloodbath and delivered," he said, in reference to a statement by the president from before the elections, when he said that there would be a "bloodbath" if his party didn't win the elections.

"I must admit it was shocking to hear at the time, but I must also recognize that it's much more shocking to see him actually do it," added Almagro, a historical regional foe of Maduro.