Opposition Leaders in Venezuela Under Criminal Investigation for Urging Army to Support the People
Venezuela’s Public Ministry has initiated a criminal investigation into opposition leaders for urging police and military officials to disobey the laws.
The investigation stems from an August 5 letter by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and leader Maria Corina Machado, calling on the armed forces to cease suppressing protesters and honor the voice of the people.
The investigation into Gonzalez and Machado will center on charges of usurpation of functions, dissemination of false information leading to distress, instigation to disobey laws, incitement to insurrection, collusion to commit crimes, and conspiracy.
In their letter, the opposition leaders alleged that tallied votes indicated Gonzalez secured a clear win with 67% of the votes, while President Nicolas Maduro received 30%.
“We urge the military and police to side with the people and their families,” the letter stated.
Maduro Pledges No Mercy
Protests broke out in various Venezuelan cities after the electoral authority announced Maduro as the winner with 51% of the vote, stating that Gonzalez received 44%.
Machado, barred from the presidential race, participated in an opposition rally on August 3 to rally Venezuelans to champion election integrity.
![Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, greets supporters during 'Ganó Venezuela' opposition protest on Aug. 3, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F08%2F05%2Fid5699975-GettyImages-2165139627.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
EU high representative Josep Borrell remarked that copies of the electoral vote results released by the opposition, examined by independent organizations, suggest that Gonzalez “appears to have won the Presidential elections by a significant margin.”
He added, “Any attempt to delay the full disclosure of the official voting records will only raise further doubts about the credibility of the officially declared results.”
Borrell also appealed to Venezuelan authorities to “cease arbitrary detentions, repression, and violent speeches against opposition members and civil society, and release all political detainees.”
Autumn Spredemann contributed to this report.