ICJ acknowledges Guyana’s request to prevent Venezuela’s elections in Essequibo

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has acknowledged receipt of a formal request by the Guyana government to issue provisional measures preventing Venezuela from holding of elections in its Essequibo territory while the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) is ongoing.

An ICJ statement today said that the international body has received the document.

Given Venezuela’s announcement that it will hold elections in the country’s Essequibo region scheduled for 25 May 2025 and possible preparatory measures to host the polls, Guyana has asked that the ICJ to issue an order preventing Venezuela from conducting any election in Essequibo or any other part of the territory on Guyana’s side of the boundary line as established by the 1899 Arbitral Award.

Guyana wants Venezuela prevented from issuing “rights” to any individuals living in its territory to vote in any Venezuelan elections, distributing ballot papers, poll cards, electoral materials or any other physical or electronic electoral documents to individuals within the territory.

It wants Venezuela prevented from presenting or naming or otherwise supporting candidates for any Venezuelan elections within the territory as well as establishing polling stations, counting stations or electoral offices within the Guyanese territory.

Guyana wants Venezuela stopped in purporting to establish, elect or appoint any office of governor, legislative council, deputies or any other legislative or governmental official in respect to any part of the territory; and from communicating directly or indirectly with any residents in that territory in regard to any elections planned by Venezuela.

Guyana also wants Venezuela to refrain from taking any action which purports to annex de jure or de facto any territory on Guyana’s side of the boundary line established by the 1899 Arbitral Award, including by incorporating ‘Guayana Esequiba’ as part of Venezuela.

Guyana is asking, too, to have Venezuela refrain from taking any action which would seek to modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, where Guyana administers and exercises full control over that area.

The ICJ said that Guyana’s request is prompted by Venezuela’s announcement that it will soon hold elections in the country’s Essequibo region.

Guyana believes that all preparatory acts in the disputed territory leading to the holding of such elections, would violate Guyana’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, as well as the ICJ’s order on the indication of provisional measures delivered on 1 December 2023, which among other things warns against exacerbating the situation by both nations, and provides Guyana full control of the territory that was awarded by then British Guiana.

The ICJ’s December 1 order directed Venezuela to refrain from taking any action in the disputed area pending a final decision in the case.