Venezuela announces terrorism charges against Guaido ally after highway arrest

CARACAS, July 12 (Reuters) – Venezuelan prosecutors on Monday said they charged opposition politician Freddy Guevara with terrorism and treason, among other allegations, after the country’s intelligence services arrested him on board his car on a highway in Caracas.

Guevara is a close ally of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as the legitimate president of the South American country by the United States and others. Guaido said unidentified gunmen threatened him with arrest earlier Monday as he left his apartment in an attempt to help Guevara.

In a statement, the chief prosecutor’s office said it had requested an arrest warrant for Guevara because of his “alleged links to extremist groups and paramilitaries associated with the Colombian government”.

The incidents took place as the government and the opposition prepare for negotiations scheduled for next month in Mexico with mediation by Norway aimed at resolving the South American country’s deep political crisis, people close to the country told Reuters. dossier last week.

In an appearance on state television on Monday, Maduro confirmed negotiating plans but said the opposition should back off violent tactics ahead of talks. Without naming Guevara or Guaido, he said he had evidence that some actors were plotting coups and that prosecutors acted on that evidence.

“I agree with the table of Mexico and Norway, but there must be conditions, there must be an express waiver of violent practices,” Maduro said, adding that the United States and the Union European Union should lift the sanctions against Venezuela before the start of negotiations.

The US-backed opposition calls President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, alleging he rigged his 2018 re-election and uses the court system to stifle dissent.

“We strongly condemn the arrest of Venezuelan Congressman Freddy Guevara and the threats against Acting President Juan Guaido in Venezuela,” Julie Chung, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department’s Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, wrote on Twitter. of American state.

She urged the international community to join in the condemnation of the acts and called for the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela.

Maduro, who retains military support, denies the election was rigged, called Guaido an American puppet and accused him of plotting to oust him in a coup.

A spokesperson for Guaido’s office said Guevara, who was pardoned less than a year ago for inciting violence in 2017, was taken to the Helicoide prison of the Sebin intelligence service in Caracas. The prosecution did not specify where he was being held.

‘GET OUT’

Journalists arrived outside Guaido’s residence in eastern Caracas minutes after his wife, Fabiana Rosales, tweeted that security forces entered their apartment building in an attempt to arrest Guaido.

Neighbors had gathered to protest around two unmarked white trucks in which were seated men wearing bulletproof vests and assault rifles, some in balaclavas, according to a Reuters witness. Others wore hats that said DIE – the Spanish acronym for the Police Unit of the Directorate of Intelligence and Strategy.

“Dictatorship!” some of the neighbors yelled at the men. Others leaned out of neighboring windows, banging on pots and pans.

Shortly after, an unmarked gray Toyota truck filled with police officers raced out of the basement garage, leaving the residential complex. A few minutes later, Guaido got out of an SUV.

Guaido told reporters gathered outside the building that the men had left, and said it was not clear which branch of the security forces they belonged to.

“They intercepted us and pointed their guns at us in the basement,” Guaido told reporters.

Guaido’s office released two videos they said showed the incident in Guaido’s basement. Videos show at least two men wearing bulletproof vests and balaclavas approaching a car, pointing assault rifles. Guaido is seated in the passenger seat. One of the men opens the driver’s door and forces the driver to the ground, shouting “Get out!”, The videos show.

Venezuela’s information ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Reporting by Vivian Sequera and Sarah Kinosian; written by Luc Cohen and Sarah Kinosian; edited by Rosalba O’Brien and Richard Pullin

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