Venezuelan opposition candidate heads to Spain after seeking asylum

The Spanish authorities announced in a statement today, Sunday, that the candidate of the Venezuelan opposition, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who claims victory in the presidential elections held on July 28 against President Nicolas Maduro, is on his way to Spain in a military plane.

"At his request, Edmundo Gonzalez is on his way to Spain in a Spanish Air Force plane," Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares wrote on social media, citing a government statement. "The Spanish government pledges to respect the political rights and physical integrity of all Venezuelans."

On Saturday, Venezuelan authorities announced that they had granted Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition candidate who claimed victory over Nicolas Maduro in the presidential elections held on July 28, permission to travel to Spain, confirming that he had left the country.

"Today, September 7, Edmundo González Urrutia left the country. After having voluntarily sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago, he asked the Spanish government for political asylum and Venezuela granted him the necessary authorization, for the sake of peace and political tranquility in the country," Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez wrote on social media. She added that Caracas had granted him safe passage and that he had left Venezuela.

The Venezuelan vice president explained that the safe passage permit was issued after "contacts between the two governments and taking the necessary measures in accordance with international law."

Last Monday, the Venezuelan judiciary issued an arrest warrant for González Urrutia because of his insistence that he won the July elections that the authorities declared Maduro the winner. The Public Prosecutor's Office said that the charges against him include "usurpation" of a public office, "forgery" of a public document, incitement to rebellion, sabotage, and "conspiracy" with organized crime and financiers of "terrorism."

The United States, the European Union and several Latin American countries refused to recognize Maduro's declaration of victory without seeing detailed voting results.

Venezuela's electoral authority said it could not provide full details of the results, citing a cyberattack on its systems. Observers say there is no evidence of any hacking during the election.