An opposition candidate in Venezuela’s disputed July presidential election fled the country on Saturday, authorities said, deepening a blockade of Argentina’s diplomatic residence in Caracas where six Venezuelan opposition leaders sheltered From March.
President Nicolás Maduro has faced widespread domestic and international condemnation to declare that he had won For that election, as well Violent crackdown on demonstrators Opposition to that declaration. The United States has said that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, win
On Saturday, Vice President Delsey Rodriguez said on social media That Mr. Gonzalez left for Spain after voluntarily seeking asylum at the Spanish Embassy in Caracas. Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Alberes, said Mr. Gonzalez was Travel in Spanish Air Force planes At his own request.
“The Government of Spain is committed to the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans,” He wrote on X.
Mr. Gonzalez was a retired diplomat with no political ambitions Pulled out of obscurity To become a stand-in for popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado in March. A few weeks earlier, Venezuela’s Supreme Court disqualified Ms. Machado from the election, a common tactic to keep strong contenders off the ballot. Those who know Mr. Gonzalez said The role was not one he aspired to, but he accepted it out of a sense of duty.
On Monday, a Venezuelan court dealing with “crimes related to terrorism” issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Gonzalez. He was charged with conspiracy, usurpation of power and sabotage, among other things.
In a separate standoff, security forces have surrounded Argentina’s diplomatic residence in Caracas since Friday night. Six Venezuelans took refuge there in March shortly after the country’s attorney general issued warrants for their arrest.
Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement On Saturday that Venezuelan intelligence security forces surrounded the residence. He warned them not to “kidnap” asylum seekers living inside.
Brazil has been representing Argentina’s interests in Venezuela since last month, when Mr. Maduro ordered diplomats from Argentina and other countries who disputed his claim to win the election to leave the country.
in In a statement on Saturday, Venezuela’s foreign ministry said it was forced to withdraw custody of Argentina’s diplomatic mission to Brazil. The foreign ministry said it had evidence that its facilities were being used for “terrorist activities” and assassination plots against Mr Maduro and his government.
A representative of Brazil’s foreign ministry told the New York Times that Venezuela had no right to do so under international law.
In a separate statement, Brazil’s foreign ministry said it was surprised to learn that Mr. Maduro’s government “wants to revoke its consent for Brazil to protect Argentina’s interests in Venezuela.”
“Brazil will be in charge of the custody and defense of Argentina’s interests until the Argentine government indicates to the Venezuelan government another state acceptable to exercise the above functions,” the statement said.
Some Venezuelans taking refuge in Argentina’s diplomatic residence Posted images on X On Saturday morning what appeared to be nearby uniformed armed men, some wearing balaclavas. They also confirmed earlier reports that electricity to the residence had been cut.
in A message posted to XMs. Machado appealed for help from the international community.
“Diplomatic asylum, in principle and as an institution with a deep Latin American spirit, has served to protect the politically persecuted,” Ms. Machado wrote, “today, it is being violated.”
in Interviews with the Times This summer, several opposition leaders described living in a state of anxiety and uncertainty since taking refuge there in March.
After the July election, police officers were stationed outside the residence for three days, sometimes handcuffed, campaign officials said.
Magalli Maeda, a top aide to Ms. Machado, said those three nights “took years off my life.”
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