CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JULY 30: Opposition campaigner Edmundo Gonzalez. (Photo by Pedro Rances Mattey/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Venezuela's erstwhile statesmanlike absorption campaigner Edmundo Gonzalez has near for Spain successful the aftermath of the South American country's contested election, Venezuelan and Spanish officials said connected Saturday nighttime aft a time of rising diplomatic tensions.
Gonzalez, 75, who ran against President Nicolas Maduro successful July, near aft "voluntarily seeking refuge successful the Spanish embassy successful Caracas respective days ago," Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez posted connected Instagram.
"Edmundo Gonzalez has taken disconnected from Caracas heading to Spain connected a Spanish Air Force plane," Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares posted connected X, saying Madrid was responding to a petition from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez's exit from Venezuela is the latest governmental improvement since the country's predetermination connected July 28. Democracies astir the satellite person criticized the Venezuelan government's handling of the vote, which predetermination officials and its apical tribunal accidental was won by Maduro.
Venezuela's absorption accidental the predetermination resulted successful a resounding triumph for Gonzalez, and published ballot tallies online that they accidental amusement helium won.
This week prosecutors issued an apprehension warrant for Gonzalez successful transportation to the online work of the tallies, accusing him of usurping functions, falsifying nationalist documents and conspiracy, among different charges.
A antheral waves a Venezuelan emblem arsenic demonstrators clash with constabulary officers during a protestation against President Nicolas Maduro's authorities successful Caracas connected July 29, 2024, a time aft the Venezuelan statesmanlike election. Protests erupted successful parts of Caracas Monday against the re-election triumph claimed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro but disputed by the absorption and questioned internationally, AFP journalists observed.
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Earlier connected Saturday, Venezuela's authorities revoked Brazil's authorization to correspond Argentine interests successful the country, including administering the embassy wherever six absorption figures are sheltering.
Venezuela broke relations with Argentina aft the statesmanlike election. Brazil, similar Colombia and Mexico, has asked the Venezuelan authorities to people the afloat results of the vote.
The authorities has not done truthful and the country's electoral authorization said Maduro won re-election for a 3rd term.
In a statement, Venezuela said the decision, effectual immediately, was owed to impervious that the embassy was being utilized to program assassination attempts against Maduro and Rodriguez.
Brazil said it had received the connection that its authorization had been revoked "with surprise." Argentina said it rejected the "unilateral" decision. Both countries urged Maduro to respect the Vienna Convention connected Diplomatic Relations.
"Any effort to invade oregon kidnap asylum seekers who stay successful our authoritative residence volition beryllium harshly condemned by the planetary community," Argentina said successful a statement. "Actions similar these reenforce the condemnation that successful Maduro's Venezuela, cardinal quality rights are not respected."
A Brazilian diplomatic root said connected Saturday day that Venezuela had assured Brazil it would not invade the embassy.
In its statement, Brazil insisted it would stay successful custody and defence of Argentine interests until Argentina indicated different authorities acceptable to Venezuela to bash so.
"The Brazilian authorities highlights successful this context, nether the presumption of the Vienna Conventions, the inviolability of the facilities of the Argentine diplomatic mission," it said, adding that it housed six Venezuelan asylum seekers, assets and archives.
The escalation successful the spat betwixt the South American countries was archetypal reported by Reuters.
In March, six radical sought asylum successful the Argentine embassy successful Caracas aft a authoritative ordered their apprehension connected charges including conspiracy. Opposition person Maria Corina Machado has denied the allegations against her collaborators.
On Friday night, immoderate absorption members successful the Argentine residence reported connected their X accounts that the gathering was nether surveillance and had nary electricity. They posted videos showing men dressed successful achromatic and patrols from the authorities quality agency, SEBIN.
Argentina's Foreign Ministry asked the International Criminal Court connected Friday to contented an apprehension warrant against Maduro and different elder authorities officials for events that occurred aft the elections.
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