US condemns arrest warrant against Edmundo Gonzalez

Brian Nichols, assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. State Department, on Tuesday condemned the arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, Nicolás Maduro’s rival in the disputed presidential elections on July 28.

“Instead of acknowledging his electoral defeat and preparing for a peaceful transition in Venezuela, Maduro has now ordered the arrest of the democratic leader who overwhelmingly defeated him at the polls,” writes Brian Nichols on the social network X.

Nichols said in the message that Edmundo González has promoted national reconciliation.

«We join the growing list of international partners condemning “this unjustified arrest warrant,” the US official concluded.

Rather than recognizing his election loss and preparing for a peaceful transition in Venezuela, Maduro has now ordered the arrest of the democratic leader who defeated him overwhelmingly at the polls. Edmundo Gonzalez has promoted national reconciliation, and we join the growing…

— Brian A. Nichols (@WHAAsstSecty) September 3, 2024

Nine Latin American nations said the arrest warrant “cites several alleged crimes that are nothing more than another attempt to silence Mr. González, ignore the will of the Venezuelan people, and constitute political persecution.”

«We unequivocally and absolutely reject the arrest warrant issued by the judge of the First Special Court of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela against Mr. Edmundo González, opposition presidential candidate in the last electoral process of July 28, 2024,” these seven countries indicated in a joint statement.

“In a country where there is no separation of powers or minimum judicial guarantees and where arbitrary arrests abound, we condemn these dictatorial practices and our efforts will be firm and continuous to demand that the Venezuelan authorities guarantee the life, integrity and freedom of Edmundo González Urrutia,” they said.

Arrest warrant against Edmundo Gonzalez

Opposition member Edmundo González Urrutia shows a ballot from the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela. | Photo: EFE

The Prosecutor’s Office requested the arrest of González Urrutia for alleged crimes linked to the elections, including “disobedience of laws” and “conspiracy.”

González Urrutia, 75 years old, was called to testify before the Prosecutor’s Office on three occasions. He did not attend, although the third summons coincided with a nationwide blackout 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.