GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Authorities of Guyana has referred to as on the Hague-based Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) to dam Venezuela from partaking in electoral actions within the Essequibo area, at the same time as neighboring international locations have a pending border case earlier than the judicial physique.
“Guyana knowledgeable the Court docket that the deliberate Venezuelan elections are scheduled to happen on Could 25 and would inevitably be preceded by preparatory acts, together with acts inside Guyana’s Essequibo area, affecting the Guyanese inhabitants and Guyana’s sovereignty over its territory. Subsequently, to protect its rights, Guyana is requesting that the Court docket order Venezuela to chorus from any acts inside or affecting its sovereign territory, together with the Essequibo area,” the Overseas Ministry stated in an announcement.
Venezuela, primarily based on a so-called referendum, has included Guyana’s Essequibo Area on its official map. The federal government of Venezuela now plans to carry elections for a Governor and Legislative Council, amongst different areas, within the Essequibo Area.
That is the second time Guyana has sought provisional measures from the Court docket.
Guyana’s first request resulted within the Court docket’s Order of December 1, 2023, by which it ordered: “(1) Unanimously, pending a last resolution within the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall chorus from taking any motion which might modify the scenario that at the moment prevails within the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and workout routines management over that space.”
Guyana says Venezuela’s plan to carry elections in “the territory in dispute” flagrantly violates this Order.
Guyana’s present request seeks affirmation of this by the Court docket and an express directive to chorus from any electoral actions inside or affecting this territory or its inhabitants, which consists of Guyanese nationals.
Guyana additional requested the Court docket to convene hearings on its request as quickly as potential to allow the Court docket to problem such provisional measures as could be indicated earlier than severe and irremediable prejudice to Guyana’s rights happens.
