Venezuela Marks 214 Years of Independence with Ceremony in Berlin
Commemoration highlights historical legacy, peace initiatives and human rights concerns
September 02nd, 2025
On Saturday, July 5, at the Ibero-American Institute in Berlin, the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Germany hosted a solemn ceremony marking the 214th anniversary of the nation’s Declaration of Independence. The event took place before the bust of Simón Bolívar, honoring the leader whose vision of liberty continues to shape Venezuela’s national identity.
Ambassador Ramón Orlando Maniglia Ferreira addressed attendees by underscoring the significance of July 5, 1811, when Venezuela became the first colony in the Americas to formally declare independence. “That decision not only set the course for our freedom but also inspired an entire region to rise against oppression,” he affirmed, highlighting what he described as the enduring spirit of independence that informs the policies of President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The commemoration also served as a platform for the ambassador to raise concerns about the treatment of Venezuelan migrant children in the United States. He denounced the recent separation of 18 Venezuelan minors from their parents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, describing the actions as an “institutional kidnapping. ” According to Maniglia Ferreira, these cases reflect a broader pattern of arbitrary measures against Venezuelan migrants, including the detention of minors without due process.
