Prosecutors will investigate Machado and González Urrutia for “instigating insurrection”

Caracas, Aug 5 (EFE).- The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday the opening of a criminal investigation against anti-Chavez leader María Corina Machado and the presidential candidate of the majority opposition, Edmundo González Urrutia, for alleged “instigation to insurrection,” after both called on the police and military to stop the “repression” for which they accuse President Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that investigations will be initiated into this “open incitement” by the officers to “disobey the laws,” since opposition leaders asked the uniformed officers to “enforce” the results of the July 28 elections, which they claim will give González Urrutia the victory and not Maduro, as announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

“The aforementioned statement reveals the alleged commission of the crimes of usurpation of functions, dissemination of false information to cause unrest, incitement to disobedience of the law, incitement to insurrection, criminal association and conspiracy,” says the document, published by en X by the prosecutor.

According to him, Machado and González Urrutia act “outside the Constitution and the Law” by speaking of a winner other than Maduro in the elections in this “void document.”

The text in question reiterates the accusation of electoral fraud made by the main opposition coalition, the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), and the subsequent “repression” of protests against the proclamation of the Chavista leader, which is questioned by a large part of the international community.

“We call on the conscience of the military and police to stand by the people and their own families (…) You can and must stop these actions immediately. We urge you to stop the regime’s unbridled actions against the people and to respect, and to ensure respect for, the results of the elections,” the statement said.

Opponents insist that Maduro “refuses to acknowledge that he was defeated” – as the United States, Argentina and other countries claim – and, in view of the protests against his proclamation – they say – “he has launched a brutal offensive against democratic leaders, (electoral) witnesses and even against ordinary citizens, with the absurd purpose of wanting to hide the truth.”

“With this massive violation of human rights, the high command (military) is aligning itself with Maduro and his vile interests (…) Maduro has carried out a coup d’état that contradicts the entire constitutional order and wants them (the officers who do not belong to the top) to become his accomplices,” the statement said.

While the electoral body has not published the electoral records certifying Maduro’s victory, as required by law, the PUD released “81%” of these documents, which show, according to anti-Chavez supporters, that González Urrutia won by a wide margin, sparking protests in the country that have left at least 13 dead and more than 2,000 arrested.

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