31/05/2026
Former Lazkao fugitive Xabier Arruti Imaz dies in Venezuela
News has arrived from Venezuela: former Lazkao fugitive Xabier Arruti Imaz died there this Friday. He spent a total of 45 years there, fleeing Spanish persecution, and has had the opportunity to return to the Basque Country in recent years. He held several positions in Venezuela, within the structures of Chavismo.
Comrade of revolutionary struggles and dreams, active militant of our party PSUV, visionary man and leader of projects for the benefit of our community.» This is how the mayor of the Venezuelan town of Monseñor Iturriza summarized the contribution and character of Xabier Arruti Imaz, in the statement he issued to announce the death of the former Basque refugee.
Arruti took up residence in Venezuela many years ago, fleeing persecution by the police and the National Court in the Basque Country. In 2013, he was able to return to his hometown, Lazkaora, as part of the process initiated by the Basque Political Refugees Collective, but even after that, he spent most of his time on the other side of the Atlantic and died there this Friday.
Argenis José Cumaro Lugo, mayor of Monseñor Iturriza, highlighted that he had been the manager of several public institutions there. He praised him for being a “pioneer in the consolidation of Bolivarian ideas and a teacher for different generations”.
The unfortunate news also spread quickly in the Basque Country. Over the years, his name has been published many times by the Spanish right-wing media, accusing him of being “under the protection” of Nicolas Maduro. Arruti arrived in Venezuela in 1981, that is, he has spent more than half his life there and has shown great commitment to the spread of Chavismo.
In an interview given to ‘Argia’ in 2019, Xabier Arruti expressed concern about the situation there, somewhat anticipating the massacre that occurred in Caracas in January of this year: “All options are on the table (...) Military intervention cannot be ruled out (...) The opposition is demobilized and broken. But the Yankees are there with their claws.”
Arruti was a former fugitive, but two other Basque citizens who were still unable to return to the Basque Country have died in the last year: Hilario Urbizu from Olazti, last April, and Martin San Sebastian from Alzo last October, the latter also in Venezuela. A dozen people are still prevented from returning home due to obstacles from the National Court.
