THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court prosecutors said Monday that they are “actively monitoring” events in Venezuela, where security forces have launched a crackdown on the opposition in the aftermath of the nation's disputed presidential election.
Forces loyal to President Nicolás Maduro have rounded up more than 2,000 people for demonstrating against the president or casting doubt on his claims that he won a third term in the July 28 election despite strong evidence he lost the vote by a more than two-to-one margin.
In a written statement to reporters, the office of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said it is “actively monitoring the present events and has received multiple reports of instances of violence and other allegations following the presidential election of 28 July in Venezuela.”
The statement said that Khan's office has “engaged with the Government of Venezuela at the highest-level to underline the importance of ensuring that the rule of law is adhered to in the present moment and emphasize that all persons must be protected from violations that may constitute Rome Statute crimes.”
The Rome Statute is the court's founding treaty and outlines the crimes over which it has jurisdiction.
Maduro has called on Venezuelans to denounce election doubters via a government-run app originally created to report power outages. He also said the government was refurbishing two gang-dominated prisons to accommodate an expected surge in jailing of opponents.
“There will be no mercy,” Maduro said on state TV.
The ICC has an ongoing investigation into violence that followed Venezuela's 2017 election but has so far not sought any arrest warrants.
Khan, announced in late 2021 that he was opening the investigation after a lengthy preliminary probe and an official referral — a request to investigate — in 2018 by Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.
His office said Monday that “those investigations are continuing with focus.” It highlighted an online portal where potential evidence can be filed.
“Should any individual or organization have information that may be relevant to this ongoing investigation, we would welcome you to submit this,” the prosecution statement said.
Follow AP’s coverage of Venezuela at https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela
Family members of those detained amid a government crackdown on protestors participate in a vigil in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. The candles read in Spanish: "Freedom and peace." (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks to the press before leaving the Supreme Court where he arrived for procedures related to the court's audit of presidential election results in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matías Delacroix)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.
Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.
Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.
Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.
Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.
His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.
Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.
A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.
The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.
Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.
It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.
Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.
Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.
BREWERS' MOVE
The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.
UP NEXT
RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea (48) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, and Willy Adames, right, collide after Adames caught a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
