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Details of the film leakage of Aída Merlano 1:47
(CNN Spanish) - In his speech on Tuesday on public television, Nicolás Maduro kept a strange silence while reading messages from his mobile phone.
The broadcast was put on hold before the Chavista leader exclaimed: "It can't be!"
"Here is the head of the SEBIN (Bolivarian Intelligence Service) informing me of the first statements made by the Colombian citizen captured yesterday (January 27) in Maracaibo," said the president.
MIRA: Who is Aída Merlano, the former Colombian congresswoman who starred in a movie escape?
He was referring to Aída Merlano, the former Colombian fugitive from justice in her country, sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption and was arrested on Monday in Venezuelan territory.
Image of the video that captured Merlano's escape.
The Venezuelan Public Ministry said Tuesday that Merlano was presented before a court in Zulia (border state with Colombia) and charged with crimes of identity theft, use of false documents and association to commit crimes.
The political leader, a native of Barranquilla, in northern Colombia, is now the new point of contention in the complicated relationship between Colombia and Venezuela.
Bogotá has not recognized Nicolás Maduro as president since January 2019.
MIRA: Aída Merlano: the spectacular escape that Colombia is talking about
Instead, he argues that the legitimate leader of the Caribbean nation is Juan Guaidó, whom he addresses as "president in charge."
Colombia will request extradition from Juan Guaidó
Through a statement, the Ministry of Justice of Colombia on Tuesday acknowledged the truthfulness of the capture of Merlano, although he says he has not received official confirmation from Venezuela.
Colombia informed that at the time of requesting the extradition of Merlano "the National Government will make the request before the legitimate Government of Venezuela, headed by Juan Guaidó".
"This is a real ridiculousness," Maduro responded to that announcement.
MIRA: Former Colombian Congressman fugitive from justice arrested in Venezuela
“Why is it ridiculous? Because here there are legitimate authorities (…), a government, constitutionally established powers that work, ”the president claimed.
Maduro hinted that the extradition of the former congressman will not be possible because relations with Colombia remain broken.
The questioned president said that his government has at least 30 fugitives from Colombian justice in custody, including Merlano, whose extradition has not been possible for the same reason
“Who do we give it to if they comment stupidity? Send your letter, Duke, to Guaidó. Commit another foolishness to see who Guaidó sends you over there, ”Maduro said in his response to the president of Colombia.
"Gross like him alone and will continue in his policy that will lead him from defeat to defeat," he said.
Colombia will resort to Interpol
"Let's not try to distract things," President Iván Duque replied on Wednesday after the reproaches and insults of "the dictatorship of Venezuela."
"Here is a fundamental issue: Aída Merlano is a criminal," said the president, stating that his administration has communication with Interpol to get the "deportation" of Merlano from Venezuela.
The Colombian president explained that, although the diplomatic communication will keep it with Juan Guaidó, whom he recognizes as president of Venezuela, it is through Interpol that his government will seek the return of Aida Merlano to Colombian territory. It is not clear what steps Interpol would take in this particular case.
MIRA: Video of the moment of the escape of the former Colombian congresswoman Aída Merlano revealed
"Beyond that procedure (the diplomatic recognition of Guaidó), what today regulates the relationship of Interpol (...) is that this lady can be deported to Colombia so that the full weight of the law is applied",
said.
Permanent tension between “sister countries”
Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Colombia in February 2019, a month after Bogotá recognized the leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the "interim president."
On that date, Colombia also provided logistical support to the opposition of Venezuela and the United States government to undertake a failed operation of humanitarian aid shipments across the Colombian-Venezuelan border.
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"We cannot continue to support Colombia's territory lending itself to aggression against Venezuela," Nicolás Maduro said at the time declaring the breakdown of relations.
However, the Venezuelan leader insists on holding Duque responsible for the state of the diplomatic relationship between the two nations. Maduro complains that there would be no bilateral communication of any kind.
"We are obliged, because we are neighboring countries and because we are sister countries, to have permanent political and communication relations to deal with daily problems," Maduro said Tuesday at his address.
Aida MerlanoIván DuqueJuan GuaidóNicolás Maduro