BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Organization of American States (OAS) Secretariat has expressed deep concern over the forced exile of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalvez, who was widely expected to win the July 28 General Elections in Venezuela.
Earlier this week, Venezuelan courts issued arrest warrants for Gonzalvez and other opposition figures, accusing them of publishing "fake" election results. Following the issuance of the warrant, Gonzalvez went into hiding. According to media reports, Gonzalvez has since fled to Spain, where he is seeking asylum.
International diplomatic pressure is mounting for the official release of the election results. However, the electoral commission in Caracas has declared the results in favour of President Nicolás Maduro, granting him 52 percent of the vote.
“One month and ten days after the presidential elections in Venezuela, the regime has not only failed to produce the slightest evidence of an electoral result but has forced into exile the candidate Edmundo González - who, taking into account what has happened since the date of the election, undoubtedly won the elections - based on unsubstantiated summons to the Attorney General's Office and threats of imprisonment,” the OAS Secretariat stated.
The OAS Secretariat further condemned the Venezuelan government’s actions as "reprehensible and unacceptable," adding that Gonzalvez decision to flee was necessary to avoid human rights violations.
“In other words, everything has been as expected of them," the body said.
The statement continued: "A few days ago, we said that it was ridiculous to expect free, fair and transparent elections from the National Electoral Council (CNE), just as it is ridiculous to expect justice from the different actors in the Venezuelan justice system. Therefore, Edmundo González only did what was required on this occasion. Venezuela definitely does not need one more political prisoner, one more tortured person, one more victim of systematic human rights violations. We know what the regime's prisons are like and we know the sad human nature of the chain of command of dictatorial repression.”
Media outlets confirmed that Gonzalvez has safely arrived in Spain, where he is seeking asylum.
The OAS emphasized that efforts to protect democracy and human rights in Venezuela must continue, stressing the importance of determining who will assume the presidency in January. "Our objectives in defense of democracy and human rights must be pursued with greater urgency as conditions worsen."
