Venezuela’s top prosecutor has announced arrest warrants for prominent opposition figure Maria Colina Machado’s presidential campaign manager and eight other staffers for their involvement in a violent anti-government conspiracy.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a nationally televised press conference on Wednesday that campaign manager Magali Meda and others were involved in a “destabilization” conspiracy that included demonstrations, media campaigns and plans to attack barracks. He said he was charged with suspicion. .
Saab said two of the employees had already been arrested on Wednesday, including Meda.
A person familiar with Hernández identified her as the woman seen in a video on Venezuelan social media shouting “Help!” Help me! no! “Meanwhile, at least three uniformed officers are trying to force her into the back seat of an SUV,” said the person, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
Saab said the warrant was based on a confession from another Machado employee, Emil Brandt, who was detained earlier this month and whose lawyer, Omar Molla, told The Associated Press he was denied access to a lawyer of his own choice. said, said.
The announcement comes after an independent panel of experts investigating human rights abuses in Venezuela told the United Nations Human Rights Council that President Nicolas Maduro’s government has no real opposition or opposition ahead of this year’s presidential elections. This came hours after reports that the crackdown was being stepped up against suspected people.
“As has happened in the past, our team found that authorities are using real and imagined conspiracies to intimidate, detain and prosecute those who oppose or criticize the government,” the team said. Committee Chairwoman Marta Valinhas told the council that authorized the investigation team.
“At the same time, the attorney general’s office continues to function as part of the government’s repressive apparatus to give legitimacy to the persecution of critical voices,” Barinhas said in Geneva.
Machado won a landslide victory in a primary election held by the opposition last year. However, the country’s highest judicial court approved an executive order in January barring the former lawmaker from holding public office for 15 years.
However, Machado has rejected calls to withdraw from the race inside and outside Venezuela and continues to campaign.
Machado condemned the arrest. “These despicable acts are aimed at closing Venezuela’s path to change and freedom in peace and democracy,” she wrote on Twitter. “Dear Venezuelans, I ask for strength and courage during these difficult times. Today, more than ever, we need to come together and keep moving toward our goals.”
The election is scheduled for July 28th. The candidate registration period is from March 21st to March 25th.
