GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC—The Government of Guyana has called on the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) to block Venezuela from engaging in electoral activities in the Essequibo region, even as neighboring countries have a pending border case before the judicial body.
“Guyana informed the Court that the planned Venezuelan elections are scheduled to take place on May 25 and would inevitably be preceded by preparatory acts, including acts within Guyana’s Essequibo region, affecting the Guyanese population and Guyana’s sovereignty over its territory. Therefore, to preserve its rights, Guyana is requesting that the Court order Venezuela to refrain from any acts within or affecting its sovereign territory, including the Essequibo region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Venezuela, based on a so-called referendum, has included Guyana’s Essequibo Region on its official map. The government of Venezuela now plans to hold elections for a Governor and Legislative Council, among other areas, in the Essequibo Region.
This is the second time Guyana has sought provisional measures from the Court.
Guyana’s first request resulted in the Court’s Order of December 1, 2023, in which it ordered: “(1) Unanimously, pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area.”
Guyana says Venezuela’s plan to hold elections in “the territory in dispute” flagrantly violates this Order.
Guyana’s current request seeks confirmation of this by the Court and an explicit directive to refrain from any electoral activities within or affecting this territory or its population, which consists of Guyanese nationals.
Guyana further requested the Court to convene hearings on its request as soon as possible to enable the Court to issue such provisional measures as might be indicated before serious and irremediable prejudice to Guyana’s rights occurs.
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