Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has issued the following statement regarding the situation in Venezuela:
"Reports from Venezuela mark a moment of profound uncertainty for the Venezuelan people, and for international stability and security.
"This situation cannot be reduced to a binary choice between condemnation and support. It reveals a deeper shift in an emerging world order where force is normalised and law is weaponised.
"As a multilateral regional organisation dedicated to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, the Council of Europe considers that any use of force on the territory of another state raises serious questions under international law, including the core principles of the United Nations Charter of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference.
"The Council of Europe knows from its engagement on Ukraine how fragile international law becomes once the use of force is normalised. That is why consistency and credibility matter.
"A transition in Venezuela must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. Democracy can prevail only if it is reclaimed by Venezuelans themselves, through an inclusive political process, credible elections, and the restoration of democratic institutions that command public trust.
"The risk today is a deepening of polarisation in Venezuela, across the region and globally between those who condemn a serious breach of international law and those who see it as justified. These fractures weaken the foundations of international security.
"Whether we call it regime change or foreign influence, too often different standards are applied, shaped by strategic interests or ideological proximity rather than by shared and consistent legal principles.
"International law is universal, or it is meaningless. Democracy is resilient when it is freely chosen, institutionally protected, and grounded in legality. A world governed by exceptions, double standards, or competing spheres of influence is a more dangerous world."
