Before becoming the Ambassador of Colombia in Venezuela, Armando Benedetti He already had four open investigations for alleged illicit enrichment, influence peddling, violation of communications, and libel and slander.
Although these processes were in the power of the Supreme Court of Justice, the magistrates Héctor Alarcón, César Reyes and Misael Rodríguez they made the decision to refer them to the Attorney General of the Nation because when Benedetti took office as ambassador, the Court lost total jurisdiction. Now it will be the Prosecutor’s Office who continues with the process.
On August 24, President Gustavo Petro installed former senator Benedetti as ambassador in Caracas. Among its main challenges was reestablishing relations between the two countries, goal that has already been met. In addition, Petro asked him to initiate an investigation regarding the violation of human rights on the Colombian-Venezuelan border.
Additionally, nine days following taking office as ambassador, Benedetti announced the activation of judicial cooperation between both countries which would allow reopening extradition cases such as that of former senator Aída Merlano.
This diplomatic step would also benefit Venezuela because in Colombia there are political persecuted by the government of Nicolás Maduro who might be extradited, however, the president Petro has been very emphatic regarding not extraditing refugees.
With the appointment of Benedetti as ambassador, a path was reopened that had been closed since February 23, 2019, when Maduro announced the severance of all diplomatic and consular relations.
Benedetti was one of the most important bishops during Gustavo Petro’s campaign for the presidencyeven became his right hand before the campaign when he entered Human Colombia.
