Venezuela Opposition Leaders Face Criminal Probe After Asking Army to ‘Stand on the Side of the People’

Opposition leader María Corina Machado and opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González greet supporters during a protest against the official result of the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 30, 2024. Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images

The Venezuelan Public Ministry has opened a criminal probe into opposition leaders for their appeal to the army and police to “stand on the side of the people” amid protests over disputed election results.

The probe was initiated after an Aug. 5 letter by opposition candidate Edmundo González and leader María Corina Machado urged the armed forces to stop suppressing protesters and “respect the voice of the people.”

In a statement on Aug. 5, the ministry accused the two of inciting “police and military officials to disobey the laws” and “falsely announcing a winner of the presidential election,” noting that only the National Electoral Council can make that proclamation.

It states that González and Machado will be investigated for “usurpation of functions, dissemination of false information to cause distress, instigation to disobedience of the laws, instigation to insurrection, association to commit crimes and conspiracy.”

The opposition leaders said in their letter that the tallied votes accessible to them show that González had won a clear victory with 67 percent of the votes, while President Nicolás Maduro received 30 percent.

“We appeal to the conscience of the military and police to put themselves on the side of the people and their families,” the letter reads.

They claimed that Maduro has staged “a coup d’etat” and aimed to make the army “his accomplices.” The opposition pledged that “those who comply with their constitutional duty” will be “offered guarantees” in the newly elected government.

Maduro Vows to Offer ‘No Forgiveness’

Protests erupted in Venezuelan cities after the electoral authority declared Maduro the winner with 51 percent of the vote and stated that González received 44 percent.

Machado, who was banned from running for president, joined a crowd of opposition supporters on Aug. 3 to encourage Venezuelans to fight for election integrity.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado greets supporters during the 'Ganó Venezuela' opposition protest in Caracas, Venezuela, on Aug. 3, 2024. Jesus Vargas/Getty Images

Maduro said on Aug. 3 that 2,000 civilians have been arrested, and he denounced those who contest his administration.

“This time, there will be no forgiveness,” he said during a rally of his supporters in Caracas, Venezuela. “We have 2,000 prisoners captured, and from there, they will go to Tocorón and Tocuyito [prisons], maximum punishment, justice.”

Several nations have expressed doubts about the legitimacy of Venezuela’s election results, including the United States, Chile, Italy, Peru, and the European Union.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said copies of the electoral voting records published by the opposition and reviewed by independent organizations indicate that González “would appear to be the winner of the Presidential elections by a significant majority.”

“Without evidence to support them, the results published on 2nd August by the [National Electoral Council of Venezuela] cannot be recognized,” Borrell said in a statement.

“Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official voting records will only cast further doubt on the credibility of the officially published results.”

Borrell also urged Venezuelan authorities to “put an end to arbitrary detentions, repression and violent rhetoric against members of the opposition and civil society, and to release all political prisoners.”

Autumn Spredemann contributed to this report.