In a significant development for international justice, a federal court in Argentina has ruled to press ahead with investigations into alleged crimes against humanity committed by members of Venezuela's National Guard. The decision, delivered on Thursday, 9th January 2026, rejects an appeal from a former officer and underscores the principle of universal jurisdiction, offering a glimmer of hope to Venezuelan victims seeking accountability.
A Judicial Lifeline for Venezuelan Victims
The ruling comes amidst a complex political landscape in Venezuela, where the sudden release of some detainees has been met with cautious optimism. However, for many human rights advocates, true justice remains elusive under the enduring structures of former President Nicolás Maduro's government. The Argentine court's insistence on pursuing the case is seen as a critical alternative.
Judges mandated that Argentina continue its probe under the doctrine of universal jurisdiction. This legal principle allows for the prosecution of severe human rights violators in any country, regardless of their nationality or where the crimes were committed. A copy of the ruling was obtained by The Associated Press.
Ignacio Jovtis, director for Latin America at the organisation InterJust, which represents three Venezuelan plaintiffs, emphasised the importance of the moment. "We cannot lose our focus at this moment," he stated. "Victims in Venezuela are still waiting for justice." He added that any relief felt from seeing Maduro detained "has nothing to do with the process of bringing truth and reparation to victims."
Argentina's History Informs Its Present Role
It is no accident that this investigation has found traction in Argentina. The nation has become a global leader in prosecuting international crimes, drawing on its own hard-won experience bringing the architects of its 1976-1983 military dictatorship to justice. That regime was responsible for the death or disappearance of up to 30,000 people.
With over 1,200 ex-army officers tried and sentenced, Argentina has established a formidable legal precedent. As one of the few nations with laws permitting extraterritorial investigations into crimes against humanity, its courts have handled cases from Franco's Spain to Myanmar's persecution of the Rohingya.
Frustrated by domestic impunity and the slow pace of the International Criminal Court, many Venezuelans have turned to Argentina's judicial system. The criminal complaint in question accuses 14 Venezuelan National Guard officers of abuses dating back to 2014, when security forces under Maduro brutally suppressed anti-government protests.
The Case and the Wider Political Context
Argentina began investigating the allegations in 2023, with victims and family members travelling to Buenos Aires to testify. Last year, a key defendant, former National Guard commander Justo José Noguera Pietri, sought to have the case dismissed and an arrest warrant against him voided. The federal appeals court denied his requests on Thursday, citing the "extreme gravity" of the alleged crimes.
"For us, this is not a symbolic investigation," Jovtis asserted. "We really want the perpetrators to go before an Argentine judge and be tried here." A separate case recently filed in Argentina targets ousted President Maduro, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and other senior officials.
The ruling intersects with volatile regional politics. While Argentine President Javier Milei celebrated Maduro's capture by the U.S. military and initially called for the installation of 2024 election candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, his administration's tone shifted as U.S. policy changed. Official statements subsequently dropped mentions of democracy, focusing instead on "narcoterrorism."
In Venezuela, initial euphoria has faded, replaced by familiar fears. Prominent journalist Luis Carlos Díaz, briefly detained in 2019, warned that prisoner releases could create a misleading sense of resolution. "My fear is that... everyone says 'Venezuela is fixed,' and the political prisoners, dissident soldiers, journalists and human rights defenders remain in prison," he said.
He stressed the vital importance of external judicial processes: "If we had to wait for the dictatorship to fall before seeking justice, many of us would die first." The Argentine court's decision ensures that the quest for accountability, however distant, remains alive.
