CARACAS, (Reuters) – The lawyer for Venezuela opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez said yesterday the attorney general’s office would not formally accept his affidavit explaining why Gonzalez ignored three summons, amid an ongoing election dispute.
The summons came before an arrest warrant was issued for Gonzalez, the opposition’s erstwhile presidential candidate, on Monday on accusations of usurpation of functions, falsification of public documents and conspiracy, among other charges.
The summons were based on a related case – an investigation into a website where the opposition posted copies of vote tallies from July’s disputed election that has led to deadly protests and the arrests of high-profile opposition figures.
Venezuela’s national electoral authority and its top court have said President Nicolas Maduro was the victor of the election with just over half of the votes, but opposition tallies show a resounding victory for Gonzalez.
The opposition, some Western countries and international bodies like a United Nations panel of experts have said the vote was not transparent and demanded publication of full tallies, with some outright decrying fraud.
