Several Venezuelan opposition leaders have sought refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas, the Argentine government said late last night in a statement, cited by Reuters and BTA.
Argentina's foreign ministry did not release the names of the Venezuelan politicians it said were in the Argentine embassy, citing security concerns.
Local media said they were six politicians linked to Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader who was barred from registering to run in July's presidential election despite winning the opposition primary.
The Argentine government expressed its “concern about the deterioration of institutions and the acts of harassment and persecution directed against political figures in Venezuela”, the statement said.
The Venezuelan government has not yet responded to a request for comment.
A major Venezuelan opposition group yesterday registered former ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez for the presidential election to secure a place on the ballot, following Machado's ban and the inability of her deputy, Corina Ioris, to register in the online registration system.
Last week, Venezuela's attorney general, Tarek Saab, said two people close to Machado had been arrested. Seven other members of her team, including her right-hand woman Magali Meda, have arrest warrants.