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Opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia on Saturday urged his rival in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, leftist President Nicolás Maduro, to stop “violence and persecution” against protesters, in a call seconded by the European Union.

The statements by González Urrutia, a discreet diplomat who replaced opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was prevented from running for president due to a disqualification imposed by the pro-government Comptroller’s Office, add to complaints of an escalation of repression by human rights activists.

“Mr. Nicolás Maduro, I call on you on behalf of all Venezuelans to stop the violence and persecution, and immediately release all compatriots arbitrarily detained,” González Urrutia said in a video posted on his social media.

“Demanding that our Constitution be complied with is not a crime, peacefully protesting to enforce the will of millions of Venezuelans is not a crime, acting as an electoral witness, taking care of the minutes and making them public is not a crime,” González Urrutia stressed.

Maduro himself, who refers to protesters as “terrorists,” has said there are more than 2,200 people arrested following post-election protests who will be held in maximum security prisons.

“It is a crime to disappear, persecute, imprison and unjustly condemn hundreds of innocent citizens; it is a crime to savagely repress peaceful protesters,” added the opposition leader who claims to have won the elections with 67% of the votes.

González Urrutia is being investigated by the courts – accused of serving Chavismo – along with Machado, for “inciting disobedience”, “computer crimes” and “conspiracy”.

The opposition published on a website copies of more than 80% of the minutes that they claim prove their victory, but Chavismo calls the published material fraudulent and the electoral body, without publishing the minutes, credits Maduro with the victory.

Human rights organizations have documented at least 24 deaths in protests that erupted after the ruling National Electoral Council (CNE) announced the results, which granted Maduro a third term with 52% of the votes, until 2030.

To date, the CNE has not published detailed voting figures, claiming that its system was hacked. It has only given the general result without details by electoral centres or by states.

Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, said in a statement on Saturday that “respect for the will of the Venezuelan people remains the only way for Venezuela to restore democracy and resolve the current political and socio-economic crisis with guarantees for all.”

Borrell said that the 27 members of the bloc “unanimously” request the publication of the minutes and an independent verification.

“In addition to the minutes and a frank dialogue to restore democracy, the most urgent thing is that the Venezuelan authorities immediately put an end to arbitrary detentions and repression against members of the opposition and civil society, and that all political prisoners be released,” he urged.

Maduro, for his part, went to the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), which the opposition accuses of serving the government, to lodge an appeal aimed at “certifying” the results after his controversial victory.

The TSJ summoned the president, González Urrutia and eight other minority candidates to appear after accepting the appeal.

González Urrutia did not appear, considering that appearing would put his freedom at risk. The TSJ warned that failure to appear would be considered contempt and would have legal consequences.

Judge Caryslia Rodríguez, head of the TSJ and the electoral chamber, said on Saturday that the highest court will begin an “expertise” phase with the evidence collected, after which it will issue a final decision.

“This electoral chamber continues with the expert appraisal initiated on August 5, 2024, in order to produce the final judgment that responds to this appeal,” said Rodríguez.

The court’s decision “will be considered a final judgment, as this court is the highest authority in electoral matters, and its decisions are final and binding,” the judge stressed.

The opposition and observers consider the hacking theory to be a government strategy to prevent the publication of electoral documents, but Maduro claims that it was a “brutal cyber attack.”

From hiding, Machado told AFP that he offered “guarantees and safe-conducts” to members of the “regime” for a peaceful transition.

However, Maduro ruled out any “negotiation” with the opposition and asked Machado to turn himself in to justice.

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