Venezuela attorney general Saab and ombudsman resign

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab and Ombudsman Alfredo Ruiz tendered their resignations to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Neither official has publicly provided reasons for stepping down.

The resignations were formalised in letters addressed to Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, president of the legislature. Both officials had been ratified for seven-year terms in October 2024, set to run until 2031. Their departures come amid ongoing domestic and international scrutiny of the government’s handling of political dissent and justice.

Saab, 63, has served as Venezuela’s chief prosecutor since 2017, presiding over high-profile corruption cases and the arrests of opposition figures and protesters. 

A lawyer known for portraying himself as a defender of human rights, he previously served as a deputy to the 1999 National Constituent Assembly, governor of Anzoátegui state, and Ombudsman.

Throughout his tenure, Saab faced heavy international criticism. He has been under United States sanctions since 2017 over alleged human rights violations, with opposition leaders frequently accusing him of ignoring abuses by law enforcement. Saab has consistently defended the government’s detentions, stating that those held were “detainees for actions that at the time were documented,” and denying the existence of political prisoners.

In one of his final official acts, Saab endorsed the recently passed Amnesty Law, describing it as the closure of an “important historical cycle” and a means to help “heal wounds” left by years of internal conflict and political disputes. He was also a vocal supporter of President Nicolás Maduro, who was captured in a U.S. military operation on 3 January, which Saab characterised as a “criminal incursion” and a violation of international law.

The National Assembly currently has no deputy prosecutor to fill Saab’s role. Temporary managers will be appointed for both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ombudsman’s Office while a formal Nominations Committee begins the process of selecting permanent replacements. Saab is expected to serve as acting ombudsman following the resignation of that official, while Larry Devoe, head of the National Council of Human Rights, will serve as acting attorney general until permanent replacements are confirmed by the legislative committees.

The resignations mark a significant moment in Venezuela’s legal and political landscape, as the government navigates pressures both from within the country and abroad.

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