For the first time, the Venezuelan government has confirmed that members of the country's opposition have left the Argentine diplomatic facility where they have been holed up for more than a year.
However, authorities deny that their arrival in the United States was the result of an international rescue operation, as claimed by the political faction and the US State Department.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the group's movements had been coordinated with the government, adding that one of the six people who entered the Argentine ambassador's residence in March left in August, contradicting previous opposition claims.
Mr Cabello's statements came about 24 hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on social media that opposition members were in the US following a “successful rescue operation”.
The government of Argentine President Javier Miley gave six people permission to visit the ambassador's residence after authorities loyal to Venezuela's ruling party issued arrest warrants for them, accusing them of inciting violence to destabilize the country.
The group included opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's campaign manager and communications director, as well as Fernando Martinez, who previously held a ministerial post in the 1990s.
Mr Martinez left the estate in mid-December and was summoned to the prosecutor's office, according to Venezuelan authorities.
He passed away in February.
Following Mr. Rubio's announcement on Tuesday, Ms. Machado expressed gratitude to everyone who participated in what she called “an impeccable and epic operation to free the five Venezuelan heroes.”
However, Mr Cabello claims that after Mr Martinez left, only four people remained at the embassy.
Since late November, the group has been protesting the constant presence of intelligence agents and police at the residence.
He also accused President Nicolas Maduro's government of cutting off the complex's electricity and water supply, charges that authorities have denied.
“They put on their show and then they started negotiating,” Mr. Cabello said Wednesday during his weekly show on state television.
Mr Cabello did not provide any details about the group's movements en route to the United States.
But he maintains that Ms Machado negotiated with the government to allow her mother to leave the country, which he says she did on Monday on a commercial flight to the Colombian capital, Bogota.
Ms Machado, who was last seen in public in January
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
