Venezuelan opposition candidate defies summons, cites legal rights: Video
Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who faces an arrest threat for claiming victory in the disputed July presidential election, has defied a summons from prosecutors, according to his lawyer, Jose Vicente Haro.
In a statement, Haro said his client is exercising his legal rights by refusing to appear before authorities.
"We in the legal defence of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, we maintain our position too, that is why we present this communication that is self-explanatory and where all the reasons from a legal, constitutional point of view are exposed," Haro was quoted by AFP, presenting a document outlining their defence. The lawyer emphasized Gonzalez Urrutia's need to preserve his physical safety amid rising tensions.
"My mission was to fulfil the objective - the objective was to present a document that would clarify all the details for which Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia did not appear (before prosecutors), exercising his rights and guarantees and preserving his physical integrity," Haro added.
The contested election has triggered Venezuela's worst unrest in years, leaving 25 civilians and two soldiers dead, with nearly 200 injured and more than 2,400 arrested, according to government reports.
