The International Criminal Court has decided to proceed with the investigation against the Venezuelan government for possible crimes against humanity.

(CNN Spanish) — The International Criminal Court's (ICC) Appeals Chamber in The Hague decided on Friday that the Prosecutor's Office will continue the investigation of possible crimes against humanity against the Venezuelan government after rejecting six appeal arguments raised by the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

“The Appeals Chamber considers it appropriate to confirm the contested decision,” said its president, Judge Marc Perrin de Brichampt.

The Appeals Chamber's ruling authorized prosecutor Karim Khan to continue the trial as part of a trial that began in November 2021.

The International Criminal Court's Pre-Trial Chamber ruled in November 2023 that Venezuelan authorities had “not investigated or investigated criminal acts that could constitute crimes against humanity”.

The hearing this Friday was attended by the ICC Prosecutor's Office, representatives of the Government of Venezuela – including Larry Lao, Venezuela's representative to the International Human Rights Organization – and representatives of the General Office for the Protection of Victims.

Venezuela's foreign minister, Juan Gil, rejected the verdict for his crimes against humanity.”

On previous occasions – notably after ICC prosecutor Karim Khan visited Caracas in June – Attorney General Derek William Sapp has said the Venezuelan government “has the will to do justice”.

Two weeks ago, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that the Maduro government was expelling all staff from the office in Caracas representing the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.