Venezuela earthquake: Nobel laureate Machado accuses government of blocking her return

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has accused the government of preventing her return to the country, which has been struck by two powerful earthquakes that killed over 1,700 people. Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been in exile since December after a notable flight to Oslo to receive her award.

In a video statement, Machado expressed her desire to return to Venezuela to support its citizens during "these heartbreaking hours." She alleged that the government "closed the commercial airspace of Venezuela to prevent my entry" and later reversed the decision while threatening those who might facilitate her return. The Maiquetia International Airport, serving Caracas, was closed due to earthquake damage but has partially reopened for humanitarian flights, with airports in Valencia and Maracaibo operating for international commercial flights.

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The government closed the commercial airspace of Venezuela to prevent my entry and then they had to reverse that decision, but they threatened those who want to facilitate my return.

The earthquakes occurred approximately six months after President Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. forces. His Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, is currently serving as interim president amid pressure from Washington. The opposition, led by Machado, claims their candidate Edmundo González Urrutia won the 2024 presidential election, despite official results declaring Maduro the winner amidst fraud allegations.

Machado has previously expressed her determination to negotiate a democratic transition with the interim government from Panama. However, Rodríguez's administration has not responded to her overtures. Reports suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump is not favorably inclined towards Machado's return, with another opposition figure, Dinorah Figuera, having been preferred by the U.S. for discussions on a democratic transition.

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in these heartbreaking hours