The Bolivarian National Police of Venezuela (PNBV) published an arrest warrant against the opponent this Thursday. Edmundo González Urrutia, who is exiled in Spain, and has set a reward of $100,000 (just under 97,500 euros) for anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the self-proclaimed winner of the last presidential elections that facilitates his arrest.
“Arrest warrant against Edmundo González Urrutia for crimes against the peace of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Anyone who has information must report it immediately,” the Venezuelan Police stated in their official profile. Instagramwhere he has shared a photograph of the search warrant. The text highlights that Edmundo González is being sought for the alleged “conspiracy” crimescomplicity in the use of violent acts against the Republic, usurpation of functions, forging of documents, legitimation of capital, ignorance of State institutions, instigation to disobedience of the laws and association to commit a crime, among others,” reads the shared image, where, initially, a reward of $500,000 was offered which, minutes later, was lowered to $100,000.
Likewise, through the publication – whose comments were blocked minutes after uploading it to Instagram – the PNB indicated that “anyone” who has information about González Urrutia’s location must “report it immediately.”
So far, the publication is reflected in the accounts of State security bodies institutions, but it has not been shared by any of the Government officials who traditionally use their networks to report matters related to complaints or claims, especially when It’s about opposition politicians.
At the beginning of September, the Venezuelan Justice issued an arrest warrant against Edmundo González, who proclaimed himself the winner of the July presidential elections and in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) gave victory to the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. Results questioned internationally and on which the opposition relies to legitimize his intention to take office on January 10.
Maduro already justified the arrest order by considering it “inadmissible” that González “does not recognize the laws”, in reference to his rejection of both the electoral results and the institutions controlled by Chavismo that have endorsed the elections. The arrest warrant against the Venezuelan dissident was also widely rejected by much of the international community in another setback for Maduro.
In September, González Urrutia requested asylum in Spain considering that he was suffering political and judicial persecution after the presidential elections of July 28. The former ambassador was called three times by the Prosecutor’s Office to appear for an investigation for the alleged “usurpation of functions, forging of a public document” and “conspiracy”, to which he did not attend, after which an arrest warrant was issued against he.
The candidate of the main anti-Chavista coalition has reiterated that he will return to Venezuela to assume the Presidency in Venezuela, for which he asked Venezuelans to continue “together the commitment” to enforce the “mandate” of the presidential elections. “January 10, as you know, is the date established by the Constitution so that, as president-elect, he can assume the corresponding functions,” he wrote on Tuesday in ‘X’.
Milei will meet with Edmundo González in Argentina
While Chavismo launched the announcement of the capture of Edmundo González, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, announced that he will receive the leader of the opposition in Venezuela next Saturday, at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. The meeting will take place a few days before the inauguration ceremonies of the Venezuelan presidency are held.
The Government of Javier Milei was one of the first leaders to consider González Urrutia as the winner of the last presidential elections in Venezuela, in addition to condemning the charges brought against the opposition leader. For its part, Chavismo expelled the diplomats from the Argentine representation in Caracas, where five Venezuelan opposition leaders remain refugees.
Tension between Argentina and Venezuela has increased since last December 8, when an Argentine gendarme, Nahuel Gallo, was detained upon entering Venezuela through the Colombian border when visiting his partner and son. This Thursday, the Milei Government presented a complaint to the International Criminal Court for this detention, which the Argentine Executive considers a case of “forced disappearance.”
