The German government has condemned the decision of Venezuela’s government to prevent the Venezuelan human rights activist Lilian Tintori from travelling to Europe. This step is evidence that the "government of Nicolás Maduro is acting arbitrarily," declared federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
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The Chancellor has noted with great regret and with no understanding that the Venezuelan human rights activist Lilian Tintori has been prevented from leaving Venezuela, underscored government spokesperson Steffen Seibert on Monday at the government press conference.
The German government is demanding that the Venezuelan government lift the travel ban on Lilian Tintori with immediate effect, and that she be allowed to travel to Europe, he said.
Lilian Tintori, wife of the opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, wanted to fly to Europe on 2 September on a visit.
The German government had invited her and the President of the Venezuelan Parliament, Julio Borges, to a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Lilian Tintori wanted to report on the human rights situation in Venezuela and on the latest political developments in the country.
During her visit, she planned to attend high-level talks in Spain, France and the United Kingdom, as well as her meeting with the Chancellor.
The security situation in Venezuela has worsened significantly since the controversial election to a constituent assembly at the beginning of August. Since then, there have been repeated threats to and arbitrary arrests of opposition politicians. The German government has repeatedly called for the immediate release of those arrested and called on the government to return to a democratic order.