Venezuela: “Abduction” of the son-in-law of the opponent Gonzalez Urrutia

“Hooded men” “kidnapped” 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 for three days of the inauguration of President Nicolas Maduro.

The opposition regularly uses the word “kidnapping” for arrests, saying security forces are not respecting the law. It was not immediately possible to obtain an official reaction.

“My son-in-law Rafael Tudares was kidnapped this morning […] hooded men dressed in black put him into a gold-colored van […] and took him away. He is now missing,” wrote Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia on X.

“Regime agents surrounded the house”

“I categorically affirm that my husband is innocent of everything he could be accused of,” said Mariana Gonzalez, the opponent’s daughter: “Since when has it been a crime to be from the family of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia?”

At the same time, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado denounced harassment of her mother: “Regime agents surrounded my mother’s house,” she posted on been cut in the area.

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, 75-year-old former ambassador, who claimed to have defeated Maduro at the polls, completed a visit to the United States on Tuesday where he notably met President Joe Biden who gave him his support

“The last days of the Biden administration”

The two men discussed “their joint efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela,” according to a statement.

“The transition in Venezuela will take place during the last days of the Biden administration,” said Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, according to a press release from the Venezuelan opposition, two weeks before Donald Trump takes office.

In Spain since September, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia has been on a tour which has taken him to Argentina, Uruguay and the United States, in search of support before the inauguration on Friday of President Nicolas Maduro for a third consecutive term.

A reward of 100,000 dollars

On Wednesday in Panama he will meet eleven former Latin American leaders, as well as several foreign ministers. Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala have already confirmed the presence of their heads of diplomacy.

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.

This is considered not very credible by many observers. The opposition published the minutes provided by its scrutineers and ensures that its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia obtained more than 67% of the votes.

Caracas has offered a reward of $100,000 (90,939 Swiss francs) for information leading to the arrest of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who on Sunday launched an appeal to the army asking them to join him. The high command rejected it, calling it a “clownish act”.

“Are they planning to scare us with this?”

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia announced several days ago that he would travel to Caracas for his own inauguration. A trip with former Latin American heads of state from a neighboring country was discussed.

“I’m waiting for them at the airport,” quipped Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. “Are they thinking of scaring us with this? […] If they set foot in Venezuela, they will be arrested and brought to justice.”

In July, Venezuelan authorities had already prevented a plane carrying a delegation of former presidents wanting to observe the vote from landing in Caracas.

“Tyranny will fall”

Monday during an interview with AFP, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado assured that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia “would take an oath in Venezuela […] before or after January 10,” without giving additional information.

On Tuesday, during a video press conference, she asserted that Maduro’s “days” in power “are numbered. Tyranny will fall, Venezuela will be free.”

Maria Corina Machado, who had called for demonstrations this Thursday, repeated that she intended to come out of hiding to participate in the mobilization without yet giving the exact details. His last public appearance was on August 28.

“Latest news”

Want to stay on top of the news? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your email box. So you don’t miss anything that’s happening in your canton, in Switzerland or around the world.

Other newsletters

Log in

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments