Maduro's Opponent Departs Venezuela to Reside in Spain
Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez has departed for Spain, where he is expected to be granted political asylum. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Edmundo Gonzalez, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader and chief adversary to President Nicolas Maduro during the last presidential race, has departed from Venezuela to Spain, anticipated to receive political asylum there.
The 75-year-old was transported out of Venezuela on a Spanish Air Force aircraft this past Sunday. Prior to his departure, Gonzalez had sought political asylum in Spain, which is set to be granted, according to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares who stated, "Madrid would 'obviously' grant it."
Despite facing accusations of multiple offenses, the Venezuelan government allowed Gonzalez to leave the country to help maintain peace and political stability, as mentioned by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. She revealed that before his departure was arranged, Gonzalez had been staying at the Spanish embassy in Caracas as a "voluntary refugee."
After the results of the July election were announced, showing Maduro as the victor with 52% of the vote, Gonzalez went into hiding. The opposition has contested the election's fairness, claiming that the true winning candidate was Gonzalez, who they say secured approximately 67% of the vote.
The U.S., along with the EU and other nations, supported the opposition leader but did not recognize Maduro's victory. Conversely, countries like China and Russia endorsed the election's results.
In September, Venezuelan authorities issued a warrant for Gonzalez's arrest, citing offenses ranging from incitement to disobey laws to conspiracy and sabotage.
A recent complication has arisen with six Venezuelan opposition members taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas, which was subsequently encircled by local security forces following the severing of diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Argentina post-election. The Brazilian government, now in charge of the embassy's interests, expressed concern when Venezuela withdrew its authorization for Brazil's involvement, prompted by suspicions the embassy was being used for an alleged assassination plot—a charge that took Brazil by "surprise," leading them to reaffirm their commitment under the Vienna Conventions to safeguard the embassy’s integrity.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
The 75-year-old was transported out of Venezuela on a Spanish Air Force aircraft this past Sunday. Prior to his departure, Gonzalez had sought political asylum in Spain, which is set to be granted, according to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares who stated, "Madrid would 'obviously' grant it."
Despite facing accusations of multiple offenses, the Venezuelan government allowed Gonzalez to leave the country to help maintain peace and political stability, as mentioned by Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. She revealed that before his departure was arranged, Gonzalez had been staying at the Spanish embassy in Caracas as a "voluntary refugee."
After the results of the July election were announced, showing Maduro as the victor with 52% of the vote, Gonzalez went into hiding. The opposition has contested the election's fairness, claiming that the true winning candidate was Gonzalez, who they say secured approximately 67% of the vote.
The U.S., along with the EU and other nations, supported the opposition leader but did not recognize Maduro's victory. Conversely, countries like China and Russia endorsed the election's results.
In September, Venezuelan authorities issued a warrant for Gonzalez's arrest, citing offenses ranging from incitement to disobey laws to conspiracy and sabotage.
A recent complication has arisen with six Venezuelan opposition members taking refuge in the Argentine embassy in Caracas, which was subsequently encircled by local security forces following the severing of diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Argentina post-election. The Brazilian government, now in charge of the embassy's interests, expressed concern when Venezuela withdrew its authorization for Brazil's involvement, prompted by suspicions the embassy was being used for an alleged assassination plot—a charge that took Brazil by "surprise," leading them to reaffirm their commitment under the Vienna Conventions to safeguard the embassy’s integrity.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
