Guyana Seeks Provisional Measures from World Court Over Venezuela’s Election Plans

Guyana has approached the ICJ for provisional measures against Venezuela’s planned elections in the Essequibo region, claiming it violates international law and the Court’s previous orders. This is Guyana’s second request for provisional measures, highlighting the urgency to preserve its territorial sovereignty and protect its population from electoral activities by Venezuela.

Guyana is seeking provisional measures from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Venezuela’s plan to conduct elections in the Essequibo region. This action has arisen due to Venezuela’s announcement of elections scheduled for May 25, 2025, within territory that Guyana asserts is integral to its national borders. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that these actions contravene international law and the Court’s previous Order of December 1, 2023.

In its appeal to the ICJ, Guyana highlights that Venezuela’s preparations for the elections could disrupt the sovereignty over the Essequibo region, thereby infringing upon the rights of its people. The Ministry asserts that the planned electoral activities would precede and impact the Guyanese population residing within this disputed territory. Therefore, Guyana requests an immediate injunction from the Court against Venezuela, to prevent any actions that could affect its sovereignty.

This request marks the second occasion on which Guyana has sought provisional measures from the ICJ, following an earlier successful request that resulted in an Order on December 1, 2023. The Court unanimously directed Venezuela to refrain from any actions altering the current situation in the disputed territory, which Guyana administers. The current request aims to reaffirm this order and prevent any electoral activities from taking place in Essequibo region.

Furthermore, Guyana has urged the ICJ to expedite hearings on its request for provisional measures, emphasizing the urgent need to protect its rights from serious and irremediable harm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern that the Venezuelan elections would represent a blatant violation of existing international legal frameworks and the Court’s directives regarding the territory in dispute.

Guyana’s initiative to seek provisional measures from the World Court underscores its commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity against Venezuela’s electoral plans in the Essequibo region. The situation is critical, as Guyana strives for legal recognition and enforcement of its rights while aiming to prevent potential violations of its sovereignty due to Venezuela’s actions. Timeliness in addressing this request is essential to prevent further complications in this ongoing dispute.

Original Source: www.stabroeknews.com