Venezuela opens criminal investigation against opposition figures González Urrutia and Machado

The Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday that it has opened a criminal investigation against the opposition Edmundo Gonzalez and María Corina Machado, after a statement in which they asked the military to “stand by the side of the people” in reference to their allegations of fraud in the re-election of President Nicolás Maduro.

“In violation of the Constitution and the law, they falsely announce a winner of the presidential elections other than the one proclaimed by the National Electoral Council,” says a statement from the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the document released by the opposition, which González Urrutia signs as “president-elect.”

They are accused of “the alleged commission” of crimes such as usurpation of functions, incitement to disobedience of the law, incitement to insurrection and conspiracy.

Earlier, in a letter published on social media, González Urrutia and Machado called on the “conscience” of the military and police, asking them to stop the “repression” of opposition protests that have left at least eleven civilians dead, according to human rights organizations.

There are more than 2,000 detainees, according to , Nicolas Madurowhich claims that a “coup attempt” is underway.

“The high command is aligned with Maduro and his vile interests, while you are represented by those people who went out to vote (…), whose will was expressed on July 28 and you know it,” says the document by González Urrutia and Machado, addressing the state security forces.

Maduro was ratified on Friday by the National Electoral Council (CNE) as re-elected president with 52% of the votes compared to 43% for Gonzalez, nominated as a representative of Machado, who had won the opposition primaries but was vetoed due to a political disqualification.

The opposition claims that its candidate received 67% of the votes, according to voting records published on a website.

The Chavista government has rejected the validity of these documents.

“The new government of the Republic, democratically elected by the Venezuelan people, offers guarantees to those who fulfill their constitutional duty. It also emphasizes that there will be no impunity,” González Urrutia and Machado stated in their letter.