UN Expert: US Plan to Capture Maduro Violates International Law

A United Nations human rights expert has warned that Venezuela's political future must follow international law and be decided by its own people. The UN Special Rapporteur on Venezuela stated that any transition of power "cannot be imposed by foreign powers." He issued the warning following reports that the United States considered a plan to capture the country's president, Nicolas Maduro. The expert called such an operation a "blatant" violation of the UN Charter. That charter is the foundational treaty of the United Nations. It prohibits the use of force against the political independence of any state. The statement emphasizes that solutions to Venezuela's crisis must respect the country's sovereignty. The path forward, according to the UN official, must be peaceful and led by Venezuelans.