CARACAS: A Venezuelan opposition candidate called on President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday to end “violence and persecution”, hours after the country’s top court said his upcoming ruling on the disputed July 28 election could not be appealed.
Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims to have won the election by a wide margin, posted a video on social media demanding that Maduro allow free political expression.
“I ask you on behalf of all Venezuelans to end the violence and persecution and immediately release all arbitrarily detained compatriots,” Gonzalez Urrutia said, referring to the post-election unrest that has left 24 dead and 2,200 arrested. “Demanding respect for our constitution is not a crime, demonstrating peacefully in support of the will of millions of Venezuelans is not a crime,” added the 74-year-old former diplomat.
