Of the “hooded men” ont “removed” Tuesday in Caracas the son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia who claims victory in the July 28 presidential election, the opponent announced from Washington, during a tour intended to gather support before the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro.
President Maduro proceeded “to the activation of the ODIs (Comprehensive Defense Organs) for the first time in order to defend peace, stability and the Venezuelan family”. The ODIs are a national military-police plan and bring together “all political power of Venezuela, popular power, national armed forces, militia and all police forces”Maduro himself clarified
“My son-in-law Rafael Tudares was kidnapped this morning (…) hooded men dressed in black put him in a gold-colored van (…) and took him away. He is now missing.wrote Gonzalez Urrutia on X. “Since when has it been a crime to be related to Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia?”declared Mariana Gonzalez, the opponent's daughter.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado denounced harassment of her mother: “Regime agents surrounded my mother’s house”she posted on
“I’m waiting for them”
Nicolas Maduro was proclaimed winner of the July election with 52% of the votes by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which however did not make public the minutes of the polling stations, saying it had been the victim of computer hacking. The opposition published the minutes provided by its scrutineers and ensures that its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia obtained more than 67% of the votes.
Gonzalez Urrutia launched an appeal to the army on Sunday asking them to rally behind him. The high command rejected it, saying “clown act”. Gonzalez Urrutia announced several days ago that he would travel to Caracas for his own inauguration. “I’m waiting for them at the airport”quipped Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. “If they set foot in Venezuela, they will be arrested and brought to justice.”
