The Executive Board and the Council of the German Society of International Law declare:

"The sovereign equality of states, the prohibition of the use of force, the principle of non intervention and the right of peoples to self-determination are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as central pillars of the international order. They contribute significantly to peace, security and stability in the world.

The armed attack by the United States of America on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the violent abduction of the incumbent President Maduro in order to subject him to criminal prosecution before an American court constitute a clear violation of these legal principles and fundamentally call into question the international order based on the sovereign equality of states. Accusations, such as election fraud or serious human rights violations, do not alter the principle of immunity of foreign heads of state before the courts of other states. The United States of America is therefore obliged to end this situation, which is contrary to international law.

Even more serious than these far-reaching violations of the law is the brutal openness with which the government of the United States of America renounces any obligation under international law and refuses to engage in any discourse on international law in its foreign policy.

The Executive Board and the Council of the German Society of International Law strongly warn against the consequences of this step into international lawlessness, which gives rise to fears of an ever increasing arbitrariness on the part of powerful states and a global escalation of violence.

They call on the German government and the member states of the EU to take a firm stand against this move towards lawlessness. All states are legally obliged to cooperate to end through lawful means the violations of peremptory international law. They shall not recognize as lawful the consequences of such violations nor render aid or assistance in maintaining unlawful situations. These obligations, which are enshrined in customary international law, are also part of German federal law. Compliance with them by state authorities is a constitutional duty. The same applies to other states. It is therefore the responsibility of the German government to clearly identify and criticize serious violations of international law."