The Venezuelan Attorney General's Office has initiated a judicial investigation against opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia following allegations of electoral misconduct. This investigation stems from a website that claims to show electoral records indicating González's victory over President Nicolás Maduro in the recent elections. Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced that González will be summoned to testify regarding his involvement with the site resultsconvzla.com, which is accused of disseminating false information and usurping the functions of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
The investigation and subsequent legal actions come on the heels of a controversial ruling by Venezuela's Supreme Court, which certified Maduro's victory despite widespread skepticism from both local and international observers regarding the court's independence. The ruling has been met with significant backlash, prompting calls from various regional leaders for a transparent publication of the election results to address the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
González, alongside opposition leader María Corina Machado, has been in hiding since the initiation of the investigation, which was prompted by their requests for the military and police to withdraw support from Maduro. While Machado has made public appearances advocating for electoral integrity, González's absence raises concerns about the safety and freedom of opposition figures in Venezuela.
