QCOSTARICA — Amid the growing political crisis in Venezuela, the Costa Rican government has extended an offer of political asylum to opposition leaders Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado, who could be arrested by the government of Nicolás Maduro.
This measure responds to the accusations and persecutions directed against the opposition following the recent disputed elections, which have triggered a wave of protests and repression in the South American country.
“We have been informed of arrest warrants against Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez,” the Minister said in a video message.
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The offer of asylum is not limited only to Machado and González. Tinoco extended the same protection to other politically persecuted people in Venezuela, especially those who are currently refugees in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
These leaders have denounced that the Argentine diplomatic headquarters is under siege by Venezuelan security forces.
María Corina Machado, in response to the gesture of the Costa Rican government, expressed her gratitude for the “generous hospitality of the Costa Rican government in reaction to the brutal repression of the Maduro regime against the citizens who defend the results of the presidential election of July 28.” Despite the offer of asylum, Machado stressed her commitment: “Our responsibility is to continue this fight alongside the people.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was explicit in his accusations, stating: “I hold you, Mr. González Urrutia, responsible for everything that is happening in Venezuela, for the criminal violence, the criminals, the wounded, the dead, the destruction. You will be directly responsible, Mr. González Urrutia and Mrs. (María Corina) Machado, and justice will come.”
The words from Maduro resonated as the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, urged the authorities to proceed with the arrest of González and Machado. In a passionate speech, Rodríguez asserted: “There can be no compromise with fascism, there is no dialogue, there is no procedural benefits. Fascism cannot be forgiven.”
Rodríguez also emphasized the need for firm legal action: “There is no compromise with fascism, the laws must be applied. With this I mean that the Public Ministry has to act as it is acting, not only with the criminals. Their bosses, those who ordered them, those who paid them, must go to jail, and when I say bosses, I am not referring only to María Corina Machado, who must go to jail, I am referring to Edmundo González Urrutia, because he is the head of the fascist conspiracy that they are trying to impose in Venezuela. That is the truth.”
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Maduro, who declared his election victory shortly after midnight on Monday, July 29, while the opposition and independent pollsters contested the result, has ordered military and police patrols across the country from Wednesday.
The government of Rodrigo Chaves has rejected the results that gave Maduro a third consecutive term and joined other countries in Latin America calling them fraudulent.
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