Buenos Aires, January 15 (NA) – The Buenos Aires Federal Court ordered Judge Sebastián Ramos this Thursday to resolve the extradition request for ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to Argentina, within the framework of a case against crimes against humanity based on the principle of universal jurisdiction. The appellate court considered that the magistrate is in a position to rule on the motion presented by the plaintiff, represented by attorney Tomás Farini Duggan, and supported by Federal Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli, after the controversy over the competence of the Argentine judiciary was resolved, as Argentine News Agency learned from judicial sources. In its ruling, judges Leopoldo Bruglia and Pablo Bertuzzi stated that the procedural obstacles that, according to the judge himself, had prevented progress no longer exist, and affirmed that it is necessary to give a “substantial response” to the request to initiate the active extradition process for Maduro.
What is he accused of The plaintiff argues that the evidence gathered over recent years has made it possible to prove forced disappearances, torture, rapes, and executions ordered by the Venezuelan regime. Prosecutor Stornelli recalled that Maduro, currently detained in the United States, has a pending summons to testify with a valid arrest warrant, issued by directive of the Federal Chamber.
Maduro, along with Diosdado Cabello and 15 other individuals, has an international arrest warrant since 2024, as part of an investigation into systematic and widespread attacks against the Venezuelan civilian population since at least 2014. However, the Chamber clarified that Argentina's jurisdiction to intervene in the case could be reviewed in the future if ongoing processes before the International Criminal Court are proven, to avoid double jeopardy.
