Venezuela’s government has issued a stark warning to opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, declaring she will be considered a fugitive if she attempts to travel to Norway for the Nobel ceremony on December 10. Machado, who has gone into hiding, remains wanted on a host of serious charges, including conspiracy, terrorism, and incitement of hatred, according to statements from Attorney General Tarek William Saab. For authorities in Caracas, her support of US military efforts in the Caribbean and public backing of Washington’s claim that President Maduro leads a drug cartel have further escalated her legal troubles.​

Machado’s intent to receive the world’s most prestigious peace prize in Oslo has placed her at the center of a diplomatic and political showdown. The Venezuelan regime alleges that her activities, including alleged collaboration with foreign governments and calling for international intervention, undermine national sovereignty and promote unrest. As a result, officials insist that any attempt to travel abroad would formally place her in defiance of Venezuelan law, treating her as a criminal on the run.​

The situation is further complicated by recent US military deployments in the Caribbean, purportedly for anti-drug operations, but viewed by the Maduro government as attempts to destabilize Venezuela’s leadership. Machado has publicly supported these foreign measures, intensifying accusations from the country’s ruling authorities that she seeks outside help to topple the government. Meanwhile, Caracas claims that military strikes on suspected drug boats in the region have resulted in numerous civilian deaths, which officials characterize as extrajudicial executions.​

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Despite the risks, Machado advocates for a new era in Venezuela, expressing hope for democracy in recent public statements. Internationally, she is celebrated for her commitment to peaceful change and for leading election monitoring efforts that counteract authoritarian control. The Nobel Committee’s recognition highlights her role as a symbol of hope, even as her safety and freedom remain threatened by her own government.​

As global attention turns to Oslo, Venezuela’s correspondence underscores the peril faced by political dissidents and the contentious battle over democracy in the country. The Nobel ceremony may proceed without Machado’s presence, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who challenge authoritarian regimes worldwide.​

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