Venezuelan far-right opposition's former presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. Photo: Miguel Gutiérrez/EFE.
This Thursday, January 2, Venezuela’s Scientific, Criminal, and Criminal Investigation Corps (CICPC) announced a reward of US$ 100,000 to anyone who provides information on the whereabouts of Edmundo González Urrutia in case he enters Venezuelan territory again.
Authorities have identified González as a key figure in attempts to destabilize the country following the July 28 presidential election.
Atención: Son ocho los delitos que Fiscalía le achaca al ex candidato presidencial Edmundo González; entre ellos legitimación de capitales, según se lee en la ficha publicada por el Cicpc donde ofrecen 100 mil dólares a quien proporcione información que conduzca a su captura pic.twitter.com/17FCR4fODU
— Eligio Rojas (@ELESPINITO) January 3, 2025
The far-right opposition’s former candidate faces charges of serious crimes, including conspiracy, complicity in violent acts, usurpation of functions, and money laundering. According to the Attorney General’s Office, González led actions aimed at the non-recognition of state institutions and the promotion of chaos in Venezuela, for which an arrest warrant has already been issued against him.
On December 20, the Spanish government confirmed that it had granted political asylum to González, who left Venezuela after recognizing the Supreme Court’s ruling that confirmed Nicolás Maduro’s victory in the presidential elections. However, once in Spain, he denied the agreement, leading to the disclosure of evidence showing that the agreement was factual.
Under the mentorship of the far-right politician María Corina Machado, Edmundo González Urrutia ran as the candidate for the opposition party Unitary Platform (MUD) in the July 28 presidential elections. As he did not win, he relied on the financing of criminal organizations and the right-wing party Vente Venezuela to promote street violence and destruction of public property with the so-called guarimbas, leaving several Venezuelan homes in mourning.
The reward was announced amid rumors of González’s possible return to Venezuela on January 10, the date of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration. Additionally, the outgoing president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle, announced that he will meet with González this Saturday.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
