Key Takeaways
- Venezuela abruptly closed its Oslo embassy days after opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize
- Norway confirmed the closure but received no official explanation from Venezuelan authorities
- President Maduro recently called Machado a “demonic witch” without mentioning her Nobel award
Venezuela has suddenly shut down its embassy in Oslo, Norway confirmed on Monday, in a move that comes just three days after Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for her democratic activism.
Norwegian foreign ministry spokeswoman Cecilie Roang stated: “We have been informed by the embassy of Venezuela that it is shutting its doors and no reason has been given.” She added that despite differences, Norway wants to maintain dialogue with Venezuela.
Embassy Communications Cut Off
According to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, embassy calls went unanswered on Monday afternoon. By evening, AFP confirmed that all phone lines had been disconnected.
The closure occurs amid heightened tensions between Venezuela’s government and the international community following Machado’s Nobel recognition.
Nobel Prize Announcement
The 58-year-old opposition leader was honored for what the Nobel Committee described as her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela” and her “struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Machado, a longtime critic of President Nicolás Maduro, had been barred from competing in the 2024 presidential election. Maduro was declared the winner despite widespread protests and international condemnation.
Maduro’s Reaction
On Sunday, President Maduro referred to Machado—without acknowledging her Nobel achievement—as a “demonic witch,” a term his administration frequently uses against political opponents.
The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony traditionally takes place in Oslo, and Machado’s award further complicates Venezuela’s relationship with Norway, which has occasionally mediated in the country’s political conflicts.
