Venezuelan NGOs Urge Spain to Swiftly Extradite Ex-Colonel to Argentina for Crimes Against Humanity

Twenty-six civil society organizations in Venezuela have formally requested Spain to expedite the extradition of former Venezuelan National Guard Colonel Ephraín Enrique Verdú Torrelles to Argentina. The Argentine judiciary seeks Verdú Torrelles in connection with alleged crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela.

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We urge Spanish authorities to process this extradition with the firmness, determination, and celerity that its own historical legacy demands.

In a joint statement, the organizations implored Spanish authorities to process the extradition with the "firmness, determination, and celerity that its own historical legacy demands." They asserted that granting this request is not merely a political choice but an imperative of universal justice, demonstrating that time and distance cannot diminish the gravity of crimes against humanity.

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Granting this request is not a political option, but an imperative of universal justice that will show the world that the passage of time and geographical distances are incapable of diluting crimes against humanity.

The groups highlighted that when local courts fail to protect citizens, international justice becomes the ultimate recourse. They expressed strong support for the extradition request, viewing it as a significant step towards dismantling impunity and a precedent for transnational justice. Argentine authorities issued an extradition order in February after learning Verdú Torrelles was in Spain, with the formal request transmitted shortly thereafter. The Spanish Council of Ministers approved the continuation of the extradition process in March.

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When local courts become shields for perpetrators instead of protectors of citizens, international justice emerges as the last resort for basic survival.