Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarik William Saab has declared that opposition leader María Corina Machado will be labeled a ‘fugitive’ if she travels to Norway to accept her Nobel Peace Prize. Machado, who has been in hiding since the beginning of the year to evade arrest, is accused of ‘acts of conspiracy, incitement of hatred, and terrorism.’ The 58-year-old was awarded the prestigious prize in October for her relentless efforts toward a ‘peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.’ She has consistently criticized President Nicolás Maduro’s government as ‘criminal’ and urged Venezuelans to unite to overthrow it. Many nations consider Maduro’s rule illegitimate. Machado, a prominent figure in Venezuela’s opposition, was barred from running in last year’s presidential elections, which were widely condemned internationally as neither free nor fair. Despite this, she united the opposition behind her surrogate, Edmundo González, who reportedly won by a landslide according to polling station tallies. However, the government-controlled National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, leading to widespread protests. González later fled to Spain, fearing repression, followed by attempts to detain other opposition officials. The Nobel Committee praised Machado as ‘one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.’ Nobel chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes expressed hope that she could attend the award ceremony on December 10 but acknowledged the severe security risks she faces. Machado, expressing shock at the honor, stated, ‘I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this,’ adding that it was the ‘achievement of a whole society.’ Meanwhile, Attorney General Saab revealed that Machado is under investigation for her support of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, which have resulted in over 80 deaths, mostly Venezuelans. U.S. President Donald Trump, who congratulated Machado, has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, a claim Maduro denies. Maduro, in turn, has accused Trump of attempting to incite war to control Venezuela’s oil reserves but recently expressed willingness to hold talks with Trump’s administration. Machado continues to advocate for a post-Maduro Venezuela, urging the military to switch sides and outlining her vision in a ‘freedom manifesto.’ ‘We stand at the edge of a new era – one where our natural rights will prevail,’ she declared.
Venezuela says opposition leader will become fugitive if she collects Nobel
