Live news: Venezuela issues arrest warrant for opposition presidential candidate
Venezuelan authorities have issued an arrest warrant for opposition candidate Edmundo González as a crackdown on dissent intensifies following a disputed July presidential election.
Venezuela’s Public Prosecutor’s Office posted a request from prosecutor Luis Ernesto Dueñez Reyes to arrest González online on Monday. Shortly after, the Venezuelan courts’ terrorism judge, Edward Briceño, approved the request.
The alleged crimes include “usurpation”, forging documents, conspiracy and sabotage.
In July, González claimed victory in a disputed election against incumbent Nicolás Maduro.
The US declared González the winner, while a panel of UN experts said Venezuelan authorities did not follow legal and regulatory provisions when they declared Maduro as re-elected without publishing detailed results.