Reactions to the arrest warrant against Edmundo González
A court issued an arrest warrant against Edmundo González Urrutia, who claims victory in the presidential elections on July 28. Following the announcement, there were various reactions in the democratic world.
The Argentine government issued a statement saying that “the regime intends to curtail the fight for democracy and freedom by persecuting opposition leaders.” It asked the international community to be alert to the next actions of Chavismo.
“The Argentine Republic rejects the arrest warrant issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Maduro dictatorship against the winner of the presidential elections of July 28, Edmundo González Urrutia, and alerts the international community about a wave of radicalization of the regime that seeks to criminalize the democratic forces of Venezuela,” the Argentine government said in a statement.
He said he would not remain indifferent to the infamous actions of the Maduro dictatorship and would continue to support his people in their battle to regain democracy.
Venezuela: The Argentine Republic condemns the request for arrest of the winner of the elections, Edmundo González Urrutia
The Argentine Republic rejects the request for arrest issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Maduro dictatorship against the winner of… pic.twitter.com/MacEGDfZJb
— Argentine Foreign Ministry 🇦🇷 (@Cancilleria_Ar) September 2, 2024
Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa said that “this is a spurious order from a criminal prosecutor and a fraudulent regime.”
“Edmundo González is the elected president of Venezuela. An attack against him is an attack against the 7,303,480 Venezuelans who voted for Edmundo. They will not be able to defeat us,” Guanipa said in a message posted on the social network X.
This is a spurious order from a delinquent prosecutor and a fraudulent regime.
Edmundo González is the president-elect of Venezuela.
An attack against him is an attack against the 7,303,480 Venezuelans who voted for Edmundo.
They won’t be able to defeat us.
Long live free Venezuela https://t.co/nGqh7zREV3
— Juan Pablo Guanipa (@JuanPGuanipa) September 2, 2024
Journalist Vladimir Villegas said: “The use of justice for political ends has become a habit in our country. This arrest warrant is not surprising. It is worrying.”
The arrest warrant for Edmundo González Urrutia is another step forward in the closure of democratic spaces in Venezuela. The use of justice for political ends has become customary in our country. This arrest warrant is not surprising. It is worrying.
— Vladimir Villegas (@Vladi_VillegasP) September 3, 2024
Medellin Mayor Fico Gutierrez rejected the arrest warrant and warned that, in his opinion, the government will make a similar decision regarding Maria Corina Machado.
«From Medellin, Colombia “We reject this absurdity. The one who should be in jail for stealing the elections is Maduro,” said Gutiérrez.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Dictator Maduro issues an arrest warrant against the real President-elect of Venezuela 🇻🇪 Edmundo González @EdmundoGU . They will do the same with @MariaCorinaYA .
From Medellín, Colombia 🇨🇴 we reject this absurdity.
Who should be in jail for stealing the… pic.twitter.com/plf3t8Nqbp— Fico Gutierrez (@FicoGutierrez) September 2, 2024
U.S. Senator Rick Scott called for the approval of the Bolívar Law and argued that the United States should cut ties with those who have ties to the government of Nicolás Maduro.
“It is time to pass my BOLIVAR Law and cut ties with anyone who supports Maduro’s murderous regime. The world is watching, and so are the people of Venezuela. It is clear that Edmundo won, and Maduro is scared to death of the fight for freedom and democracy that is happening all over Venezuela,” the lawmaker said.
Biden-Harris’ weak appeasement policies emboldened Maduro and his thug regime, resulting in an attempt to steal the election from the President-elect @EdmundoGU and now an illegal order for his arrest. This is a limit, and if Maduro and his cronies… https://t.co/Y50zxuZPXc
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) September 2, 2024
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a court with jurisdiction over terrorism to issue an arrest warrant against González Urrutia for alleged crimes related to the elections, including “disobedience of laws”, “conspiracy”, “usurpation of functions” and “sabotage”.
González Urrutia, 75 years old, was summoned to testify before the Prosecutor’s Office on three occasions. He did not attend, although the third summons coincided with a power outage throughout the country on Friday, August 30.
The diplomat, who has been in hiding since July 30, argued that the Public Prosecutor’s Office was acting as a “political accuser” who would subject him to a trial “without guarantees of independence and due process.”
The subpoenas targeted the website where the opposition posted copies of more than 80% of the voting records, which it claims prove González Urrutia’s victory on July 28 and Maduro’s fraud.
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