- Lawyer José Vicente Haro said that the candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform should not have been prosecuted because he “has no” relation to the creation of the domain where the opposition uploaded the minutes of the electoral process | Photo: EFE
José Vicente Haro, Edmundo González’s lawyer, ruled out on September 3 that the standard-bearer of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) plans to request political asylum for the arrest warrant issued by a court against him.
“That scenario is not planned or proposed, a very brave decision. His greatest desire is to be close to the Venezuelans and reciprocate the support they have given him,” he said during a interview a W Radio.
The lawyer also explained that the case should not have been brought to court because González “has nothing to do” with the facts of which he is accused.
“This is an investigation into whoever created the domain of the website where the real results of the July 28 elections are located. There are the minutes delivered by hundreds of thousands of citizens who monitored the polling stations,” he explained.
Haro said that the opposition website contains the minutes of the vote count that were not published by the National Electoral Council (CNE).
However, he clarified that in Venezuela there is no criminal law, norm, regulation or instruction that establishes the publication of records as criminal in nature.
About the raid
On the other hand, Haro indicated that if there is a search warrant against González’s residence, located in Colinas de Bello Monte, Caracas, it will be complied with and CICPC and Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) officials will be allowed proper access.
He also said that Mercedes López, the opposition leader’s wife, is at home and “is willing to assist the authorities and offer them all possible assistance.”
He also mentioned that Edmundo González is not at his residence, but has had to move from house to house for his safety.
The research
On September 2, Venezuela’s Court of First Instance in Control Functions issued an arrest warrant for González after the Prosecutor’s Office requested the arrest warrant against the opposition leader for his “alleged commission of crimes of usurpation of functions” and “forgery of public documents,” in relation to the electoral records of the presidential elections of July 28.
The request, made by prosecutor Luis Erneto Dueñez Reyes, was made after the MP summoned González Urrutia on three occasions and he decided not to appear, as he did not know in what capacity he should appear and did not acknowledge the crimes attributed to him.
According to a document from the Prosecutor’s Office dated September 2, the PUD flag bearer is also accused of “instigating disobedience of laws,” “conspiracy,” “sabotage to damage systems and association (to commit crimes).”
Reactions to the measure against Gonzalez
On September 3, the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay issued a joint statement rejecting the arrest warrant against Edmundo González.
“The arrest warrant cites several alleged crimes that are nothing more than another attempt to silence Mr. González, ignore the popular will of Venezuela, and constitute political persecution,” details part of the text published on X’s account at the Peruvian Foreign Ministry.
In the document, the seven governments stated that in Venezuela “there is no separation of powers or minimum judicial guarantees” and “arbitrary detentions abound.”
“Our efforts will be firm and continuous to demand that the Venezuelan authorities guarantee the life, integrity and freedom of Edmundo González,” they added.
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2024-09-04 00:10:17
