,h4 ,,res4 #bei  ,9 ! ,h\se (           
,repres5tatives1 ,u4 ,s41  ,decemb] #g1 
#bjag  ,,resolution  ,:]eas 9 ,v5ezuela1
 ,presid5t ,nicolas ,maduro controls !  
,presid5cy1 a majority ( !              
municipalities1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt1 !     
milit>y lead]%ip1 & ! lead]%ip (        
,petrleos de ,v5ezuela 7,,pdvsa71 & has 
gutt$ ! ,national ,assembly ( ! p[] x   
con/itutionally holds2 ,:]eas 9 late    
,octob] #bjaf1 ,v5ezuela's /ate c\rts & 
,national ,electoral ,c\ncil1 :i* are   
compris$ ( political allies ( ,presid5t 
,maduro1 halt$ ef=ts to hold a ref]5dum 
pursuant to provisions ( ! ,v5ezuelan   
con/itution to recall ,presid5t ,maduro1
 !reby d5y+ ! ,v5ezuelan p ! ability to 
pursue a democratic solution to         
,v5ezuela's crisis2 ,:]eas ,v5ezuela's  
,national ,electoral ,c\ncil po/pon$    
elections = gov]nors & mayors s*$ul$ =  
,decemb] #bjaf & has n set a date to    
res*$ule ^! elections2 ,:]eas !re h be5 
sev]al attempts at dialogue betwe5      
,presid5t ,maduro & ! opposition ov] !  

pa/ ye>1 :i* h all fail$ to yield       
tangible results2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t (  
,v5ezuela cont9ues to sil5ce its citiz5s
 ?r\gh political arre/s1 ) m ?an #ddd   
political prison]s curr5tly 9 jail2     
,:]eas ,jo%ua ,holt1 a ,unit$ ,/ates    
citiz51 rema9s imprison$ 9 ,v5ezuela )  
no due process1 & f\r po/pon$ he>+s to  
date2 ,:]eas 9 its #bjaf report1        
,v5ezuela's ,viol5ce ,obs]vatory assess$
 a widespread use ( fire>ms by crim9als 
& increas$ use ( viol5ce by police &    
milit>y (ficials1 contribut+ to a       
homicide rate ( #ia4h p] #ajj1jjj       
resid5ts1 mak+ ,v5ezuela "o ( ! mo/     
viol5t c\ntries 9 ! _w2 ,:]eas police & 
milit>y raids h l$ to widespread        
allegations ( human rights abuses1      
includ+ extrajudicial kill+s1 mass      
arbitr>y det5tions1 torture1 =c$        
evictions1 & arbitr>y deportations2     
,:]eas ,v5ezuela is imm]s$ 9 a deep     
economic crisis1 ) %ortages ( basic food
 supplies & m$ic9es1 & inflation e/imat$
 to top r\ghly #a1fjj p]c5t 9 #bjag1    

accord+ to ! ,int]national ,monet>y     
,fund2 ,:]eas ! ,v5ezuelan milit>y      
controls ! production & di/ribution (   
basic food supplies1 :i* has enabl$     
corruption1 fraud1 & food traffick+1 &  
exac]bat$ %ortages ?r\gh\t ! c\ntry2    
,:]eas det]iorat+ conditions 9 heal? c>e
 p]si/1 ) ! ,_w ,heal? ,organization    
e/imat+ t !re are %ortages ( #ge p]c5t (
 necess>y m$ications & m$ical supplies1 
up f #ee p]c5t 9 #bjad & #fg p]c5t 9    
#bjae2 ,:]eas a rec5t survey - conduct$ 
jo9tly by ! ,c5tral ,univ]sity (        
,v5ezuela1 ! ,&rs ,bello ,ca?olic       
,univ]sity & ! ,simn ,boliv> ,univ]sity 
- f\nd t almo/ #ge p]c5t ( ,v5ezuelans  
lo/ an av]age ( at lea/ #ai p\nds 9     
#bjaf z a result ( a lack ( prop]       
nutrition amid/ ! c\ntry's economic     
crisis2 ,:]eas ! c\ntry is fac+ increas+
 outbreaks ( previ\sly eradicat$        
diseases1 su* z mal>ia & diph!ria2      
,:]eas ! ,heal? ,m9i/ry 9 ,v5ezuela     
publi%$ an epidemiological bullet9 9    
,may #bjag 7! fir/ s9ce #bjae71 %[+ a   

#cj p]c5t increase 9 infant mortality1 a
 #ff p]c5t rise 9 mat]nal mortality1 & a
 #gf p]c5t increase 9 mal>ia cases2     
,:]eas ! det]iorat+ conditions 9        
,v5ezuela h prompt$ t5s ( ?\s&s (       
,v5ezuelans to flee to c\ntries ?r\gh\t 
! ,we/]n ,hemisph]e1 includ+ ,brazil1   
,canada1 ,*ile1 ,colombia1 ,panama1 ,p]1
 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* ?reat5s a wid]  
refugee crisis 9 ! region2 ,:]eas !re 7 
#ah1jjj asylum reque/s f ,v5ezuelans    
seek+ to ent] ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 #bjaf1  
:i* accord+ to ,unit$ ,/ates ,citiz5%ip 
& ,immigration ,s]vices 0 ! highe/ numb]
 ( reque/s made by any nationality la/  
ye>2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela has 
regulat$ & r$uc$ ! numb] ( local &      
int]national m$ia outlets ) oppos+      
views1 includ+ ,,cnn en ,espaol foll[+  
its broadca/ ( a report alleg+ t ,vice  
,presid5t ,t>eck ,el ,aissami 0 directly
 l9k$ to a r+ ( fraudul5t ,v5ezuelan    
passports provid$ to =eign]s includ+    
kn[n memb]s ( ! t]rori/ organization    
,hezbollah2 ,:]eas1 on ,febru>y #ac1    

#bjag1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury's      
,(fice ( ,=eign ,assets ,control        
designat$ ,v5ezuela's ,vice ,presid5t   
,t>eck ,zaidan ,el ,aissami ,maddah z a 
,specially ,designat$ ,n>cotics         
,traffick] pursuant to ! ,=eign         
,n>cotics ,k+p9 ,designation ,act =     
play+ a significant role 9 int]national 
n>cotics traffick+1 & impos$ sanctions  
on ,mr4 ,el ,aissami & froze 8 assets 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #bc1   
#bjag1 f\rte5 ,memb] ,/ates ( !         
,organization ( ,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 
publi%$ a jo9t /atem5t call+ = !        
,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela to hold elections1
 re/ore ! con/itutional p[]s ( !        
,national ,assembly1 & release political
 prison]s2 ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #bh1 #bjag1 !
 ,,oas ,p]man5t ,c\ncil agre$ by a vote 
( #bj 9 favor1 #aa aga9/1 #b ab/5tions1 
& #a abs5t_/nonvot+ ,memb] ,/ates to    
move =w>d 9 discuss+ ! situation 9      
,v5ezuela2 ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #bh1 #bjag1 !
 ,supreme ,c\rt ( ,v5ezuela /ripp$      
opposition lead]s ( ! ,national         

,assembly ( _! p>liam5t>y immunity &    
began to take /eps to consid] prosecut+ 
!m = treason2 ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #bi1      
#bjag1 ! ,v5ezuelan ,supreme ,c\rt seiz$
 p[] f ! democratically elect$ ,national
 ,assembly & nullifi$ ! legislative     
bran*'s ability to function2 ,:]eas1 on 
,m>* #ca1 #bjag1 9 ! fir/ major break ( 
a sitt+ ,v5ezuelan public (ficial1      
,v5ezuelan ,attorney ,g5]al ,luisa      
,ortega ,daz affirm$ ! ,supreme ,c\rt's 
actions _h brok5 con/itutional ord]2    
,:]eas1 on ,m>* #ca1 #bjag1 ,v5ezuelan  
citiz5s took to ! /reets prote/+ !      
,supreme ,c\rt's brea* ( p[]2 ,:]eas1 on
 ,april #a1 #bjag1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt     
rev]s$ its e>li] decisions tak+ ov] !   
,national ,assembly's legislative p[]s &
 /ripp+ ! legislators ( _! p>liam5t>y   
immunity2 ,:]eas1 on ,april #bf1 #bjag1 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela ann\nc$ its     
int5t to )draw f ! ,,oas2 ,:]eas on ,may
 #a1 #bjag1 ,presid5t ,maduro ann\nc$ a 
national vote to create a ,con/itu5t    
,assembly to rewrite ! ,v5ezuelan       

,con/itution ( #aiii1 :i* ,,oas         
,secret>y ,g5]al ,luis ,almagro /at$ 79 
te/imony be=e ! ,committee on ,=eign    
,relations ( ! ,s5ate on ,july #ai1     
#bjag7 0 impos$ by decree )\t ! p &     
aga9/ ! p1 sett+ ! w ( ! dictator%ip    
above ! popul> w express$ ?r\gh univ]sal
 & direct vote2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #b1     
#bjag1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate /at$1 ,we h  
deep conc]ns ab\t ! motivation = ?is    
con/itu5t assembly1 :i* ov]rides ! w ( !
 ,v5ezuelan p & fur!r erodes ,v5ezuelan 
democracy2 ,:]eas peaceful prote/s by   
,v5ezuelan citiz5s s9ce ,m>* ( #bjag h  
be5 met ) viol5ce f ,v5ezuelan          
au?orities t has caus$ #ajj dea?s2      
,:]eas1 on ,may #ag1 #bjag1 ! ,unit$    
,nations ,security ,c\ncil met to       
discuss ! humanit>ian crisis 9          
,v5ezuela2 ,:]eas1 on ,may #ah1 #bjag1 !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury ann\nc$ ,unit$ 
,/ates sanctions aga9/ eight ,v5ezuelan 
,gov]nm5t (ficials1 all memb]s (        
,v5ezuela's ,supreme ,c\rt1 pursuant to 
,executive ,ord] ,no4 #acfib1 = _!      

responsibility 9 issu+ a numb] ( rul+s t
 int]f]e ) or limit ! ,national         
,assembly's au?ority & t limit ! ability
 ( ! ,national ,assembly to conduct its 
con/itutional duties2 ,:]eas1 on ,may   
#bc1 #bjag1 ,presid5t ,maduro sign$ a   
docum5t =mally e/abli%+ ! t]ms = elect+ 
memb]s ( a ,con/itu5t ,assembly1 pres5t+
 ! propos$ body z a way to rewrite !    
,con/itution2 ,:]eas1 on ,june #b1      
#bjag1 ,presid5t ,maduro pl$g$ to hold a
 ref]5dum on ! propos$ new con/itution2 
,:]eas1 on ,june #bj1 #bjag1 ! ,,oas    
,g5]al ,assembly meet+ 0 held 9 ,cancn1 
,mexico1 :]e a resolution reg>d+ !      
prec>i\s situation 9 ,v5ezuela fail$ to 
ga9 ! votes ne$$ = passage2 ,:]eas      
,v5ezuela's ,attorney ,g5]al ,luisa     
,ortega ,diaz is be+ legally pursu$ =   
defy+ ,presid5t ,maduro1 ) ! ,supreme   
,c\rt bann+ h] f leav+ ! c\ntry & freez+
 h] assets2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #h1 #bjag1 
opposition lead] ,leopoldo ,lpez 0      
releas$ f prison b rema9s "u h\se arre/2
 ,:]eas1 on ,july #af1 #bjag1 m ?an sev5

 million p ca/ votes 9 a popul>         
consultation to reject ! ,con/itu5t     
,assembly2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #ai1 #bjag1 
,secret>y ,g5]al ( ! ,,oas1 ,luis       
,almagro1 issu$ a ?ird report on !      
crisis 9 ,v5ezuela :i* docum5t$ !       
violations ( ! con/itution & sy/emic    
violations ( human rights by ! ,gov]nm5t
 ( ,v5ezuela & call+ = ! imm$iate       
susp5sion ( ! ,con/itu5t ,assembly1 !   
cessation ( viol5t repression1 ! op5+ ( 
a *annel = humanit>ian assi/ance1 & !   
release ( political prison]s2 ,:]eas1 on
 ,july #bj1 #bjag1 ! gov]nm5t-controll$ 
,v5ezuelan ,supreme ,c\rt annull$ !     
process ( ! appo9tm5t ( judges by !     
opposition-controll$ ,national          
,assembly2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #cj1 #bjag1 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela conv5$ !        
,con/itut5t ,assembly1 :i*1 on ,augu/   
#ah1 #bjag1 assum$ lawmak+ p[]s to      
sup]s$e ,v5ezuela's legitimate ,national
 ,assembly2 & ,:]eas ! ,con/itu5t       
,assembly vot$ to remove ,luisa ,ortega 
,diaz f h] position ( ,attorney ,g5]al  

on ,augu/ #e1 #bjag1 & to replace h] )  
,t>ek ,william ,saab1 :o 0 sanction$ by 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury 
on ,july #bf1 #bjag1 along ) #ab o!r    
curr5t & =m] s5ior (ficials ( !         
,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x 
,t ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives--  7#a7    
urges ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela to he$ !  
calls ( ! int]national community )\t    
delay to hold free1 fair1 & op5         
elections1 release all political        
prison]s1 includ+ ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s1
 respect ! con/itutional rights ( !     
,national ,assembly1 & op5 a *annel =   
int]national humanit>ian assi/ance &    
m$ic9es2  7#b7 urges ,organization (    
,am]ican ,/ates 7,,oas7 ,memb] ,/ates to
 cont9ue all ef=ts to support !         
pr9ciples ( ! ,int]-,am]ican ,democratic
 ,*>t]1 reg>dless ( ,v5ezuela's int5t to
 )draw f ! ,,oas1 & cont9ue calls = !   
,gov]nm5t ( ,v5ezuela to hold free &    
fair elections & release all political  
prison]s 9 a timely mann]2  7#c7        
recognizes ! /rong lead]%ip ( ,,oas     

,secret>y ,g5]al ,luis ,almagro 9 build+
 a coalition ( ,,oas ,memb] ,/ates 9    
support ( democracy & human rights = !  
,v5ezuelan p2 &  7#d7 enc\rages !       
,presid5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to          
prioritize a resolution to ! political1 
economic1 social1 & humanit>ian crisis 9
 ,v5ezuela & an effective response to ! 
gr[+ regional refugee crisis t is       
emanat+ f ,v5ezuela1 ?r\gh multilat]al  
coop]ation ) p>tn]s at ! ,,oas & ,unit$ 
,nations1 & ?r\gh t>get$ sanctions aga9/
 individuals responsible = !            
det]ioration ( democratic in/itutions & 
! rule ( law 9 ,v5ezuela4  ,cl]k4