Venezuela’s chief prosecutor is launching a criminal probe against two political opposition leaders for allegedly inciting security officials to break the law during last week’s election protests that erupted across the country.
Attorney General Tarek Saab made the announcement on X before posting a letter by presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez and his party leader Maria Corina Machado calling for police and military officials to "stand by the people" and accept the results of the balloting that they claimed to have won.
The official outcome published by the government-controlled National Electoral Council awarded incumbent Nicolas Maduro the victory with 51 percent of the vote.
The NEC count was strongly condemned by opponents of Maduro, who maintain that their tallies showed Gonzalez easily defeating the anti-Western socialist by 67 percent to 30 percent.
Saab’s decision comes as the regime in Caracas has been reportedly making mass arrests of protesters at their homes this week, attempting to incarcerate individuals that they have described as "fascist criminals."
On July 30, a senior member of the political opposition, Freddy Superlano, was abducted in Caracas by hooded individuals, and his whereabouts are unknown.
The disputed contest has brought international criticism from Argentina, Chile, the European Union, the Organization of American States, and the United States.
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