The defense of the standard-bearer of the majority opposition in Venezuela, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutiasubmitted to the public prosecutor this Wednesday a document that calls for respect for “the presumption of innocence” and “procedural guarantees” who – he assures – “were not present” in the three summons issued by the institution that investigates anti-Chavistas.
Similarly, he reported that “No criteria have been issued regarding a search or visit to the official residence.” of González Urrutia, who is the subject of an arrest warrant for the crimes of “usurpation of functions”, “falsification of public documents”, among others, according to the prosecution. The lawyer maintained that the attorney general was informed that the opponent has not been at home “since August 1st“for reasons of personal safety and integrity, and to protect their freedom.”
In a statement to the media, José Vicente Haro, the opponent’s lawyer, said that ““The objective has been achieved” since it was a matter of “obtaining an effective acknowledgement of receipt” and establishing “formally” before the prosecutor’s office “the reasons” why González Urrutia “did not appear” after the summons, for which a court issued an arrest warrant.
Haro handed Saab a document signed by the leftist of the United Democratic Platform (PUD), in which he asks for respect for “the presumption of innocence” and the “procedural guarantees” who – the lawyer assures – “were not present” in the three summonses issued by the institution that investigates anti-Chavistas
In the document delivered by Haro and signed by González Urrutia, it is stated that the “non-appearance” is “not at all due to the ignorance of the jurisdictional institution provided for in the Constitution”, but “to the conviction of the lack of foundation of such quotes” .
“Intensifying social tensions”
“I believe that such an appearance could only contribute to further intensifying social tensions“, in addition to consolidating a context of incriminating judicialization of politics that we must all reject,” the opponent expressed in the letter. In recent weeks – the text continues – “public statements have been made by senior government spokespersons and other state institutions.” that “they condemn in advance and (…) without foundation“.
The anti-Chavista is accused of “usurpation of functions” and “falsification of public documents”, among other crimes, after his coalition disclosed “83.5 percent of the electoral records” collected by witnesses and poll workers to support their complaint of fraud in the presidential election of July 28whose official result granted re-election to Nicolas Maduro.
González Urrutia clarified in the document that it was not his responsibility “to digitize, save and publish the copies of the control reports” that they received. “polling station witnesses”. However, he does not consider that “the functions of the National Electoral Council have been usurped”, since the delivery of the minutes to witnesses is considered in the Venezuelan system “as one of its guarantees of reliability”.
Haro, who handed over the document in a meeting with the Attorney General, Tarek William Saabaddressed the meeting from a “legal perspective” and said that ““political statements” will be “given in good time” by the opposition coalition. For his part, Saab, who described González Urrutia as “required by justice” and “demanded by the law”, announced that this Thursday he would reveal “the whole truth”, without further details.
