Venezuela govt accuses UN office on human rights of promoting opposition, orders to suspend operations 

Venezuela’s government announced on Thursday the suspension of operations for the local U.N. office on human rights and ordered its staff to leave within 72 hours.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil announced in Caracas, accusing the office of promoting opposition to the South American country. The decision followed the detention of human rights attorney Rocio San Miguel, which sparked criticism both domestically and internationally.

Gil stated that the office, serving as the local technical advisory office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, had been utilized by the international community to maintain a discourse against Venezuela.

It was not immediately clear if the Venezuelan government had notified the United Nations directly of its order to close the office.

San Miguel was taken into custody Friday at the airport near Caracas while she and her daughter awaited a flight to Miami. Authorities did not acknowledge her detention until Sunday, and as of Wednesday, her attorney had not been allowed to meet with her.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab earlier in the week said she is being held at the Helicoide prison, an infamous institution for political prisoners.

San Miguel’s daughter, ex-husband, two brothers and former partner also were detained following her arrest. Of them, only her former partner remains in custody.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday had expressed “deep concern” over San Miguel’s detention.

In a tweet, the office urged “her immediate release” and respect for her right to legal defence. About an hour before Gil’s announcement, the U.N. agency called for the respect of “due process guarantees, including the right to defence” in her case.

The U.N. office was established in Caracas in September 2019.

With inputs from AP.