Diplomatic Tensions Delay Aida Merlano’s Extradition

Helicoide prison where Aida Merlano is being held along with other political prisoners. (Wikimedia)

Former Colombian senator Aída Merlano, who has been a fugitive since October 2019, has been recaptured by Venezuelan police forces in Maracaibo on January 27.

Merlano, the former Barranquilla senator, made headlines when she was sentenced to 15 years in jail after buying her senate seat. A month later, after her court hearing, she became known around the world as the video of her escape from prison went viral. In it, she is seen leaving an approved orthodontist appointment by means of a red rope and jumping onto an awaiting motorcycle. Three months later, she has been caught living in Venezuela under the name Landis del Carmen Ferrer Urdaneta.

Miguel Dominguez, head of the Venezuelan Faes special forces, announced Merlano’s capture on Instagram by posting a photo of the Colombian fugitive. According to Dominguez, she was captured after long and arduous investigations carried out by the Faes and would be handed over to the Venezuelan prosecutor’s office. 

Though the Colombian government is asking for Merlano’s extradition, it is unclear whether this will be possible due to the political tension, both within Venezuela and between Venezuela and Colombia. Colombian President Iván Duque does not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro’s government but rather supports Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader who proclaimed himself acting Venezuelan president on January 29.

President Duque’s government has asked Guaidó for Merlano’s extradition, but as the Faes is under Maduro’s direction, it is unclear whether  Merlano will be transported to Colombia to serve her sentence. There is expected to be a three-way diplomatic struggle between Maduro, Guaidó, and Duque.

“I laughed a lot today because President Ivan Duque’s government said they were going to ask Guaidó for the extradition of a person who was captured by the Venezuelan legitimate forces. It is truly ridiculous,” stated Nicolás Maduro, highlighting that his country’s authorities function much better than those in Colombia, and calling the Colombian  counterpart a “brute,” “subpresident,” and “obtuse.” He also made it clear that Guaidó will not be sending anyone anywhere.

One day after calling Duque’s actions ridiculous, Maduro extended Colombia an olive branch. He stated, “I am willing to reestablish consular-level diplomatic relations with Colombia.” 

Duque responded to him, saying, “In February last year, it was Nicolás Maduro who ended diplomatic and political relations between the two neighboring countries, and ordered the expulsion of all Colombian diplomats from Venezuela... He knows the way he has treated Colombia; he knows, besides, that he has sponsored and hidden Colombian terrorists that have sought to hurt our country, in his territory.” 

Duque added, “The dictatorship ought not utilize this situation as diplomatic blackmail. Their responsibility, once the proceedings are finalized, is to facilitate the bringing of this person to justice under the full weight of the law.”

Carlos Luna, professor of the Central University of Venezuela, said that a potential explanation for the Venezuelan’s quick change of heart is that he is “desperately seeking to reduce Guaido’s legitimacy, which he himself doesn’t have, and is trying to use Merlano as a bargaining chip.” 

For now, Aída Merlano has been transferred to the Helicoide prison in Caracas and charged with the use of a false identification document, identity theft, and criminal association.