The newly declared president-elect of Venezuela, Edmundo González, reported that his son-in-law was kidnapped by masked individuals in Caracas. This incident follows a meeting with President Biden, as González seeks international support against Nicolás Maduro's regime.
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims His Son-in-Law Has Been Kidnapped
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims His Son-in-Law Has Been Kidnapped
Edmundo González, recognized as president-elect of Venezuela, alleges that hooded assailants abducted his son-in-law amid political turmoil.
Edmundo González, who is widely regarded as the legitimate winner of Venezuela's controversial presidential election, announced on social media that his son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, was kidnapped by hooded men in Caracas while he was escorting González's grandchildren to school. According to González, Tudares was intercepted by men dressed in black and forcibly taken away in a gold van, leaving him unaccounted for.
This alarming incident occurred just a day after González met with President Biden at the White House. The U.S. administration acknowledges González as the president-elect and has expressed intentions to elevate international pressure on Nicolás Maduro, the longstanding authoritarian leader who controversially claims victory in the July elections.
In reaction to the meeting, the Maduro regime labeled it as a "flagrant violation of international law," dismissing U.S. involvement as imperialistic interference in local matters. At 75, González is living in exile in Spain following his flight from Venezuela after tens of thousands cast votes in his favor. He has vowed to return to Venezuela to assume office on Friday, coinciding with Maduro's inauguration for yet another six-year term.
However, González faces considerable risk upon returning, including a $100,000 bounty placed on him by the Maduro government, which has intensified its efforts to suppress dissent. Recent reports indicate that nearly 2,000 individuals challenging the government's claims have been arrested under terrorism charges, marking it as one of the most severe crackdowns in Venezuela's recent history.
Despite the increasing pressure, the Venezuelan government has intermittently released numerous political prisoners, a development interpreted by analysts as a strategy to signal openness to negotiations with President-elect Donald J. Trump. As the political landscape in Venezuela remains volatile, González's fight for justice and legitimacy as president-elect continues against a backdrop of fear and repression.
