With the journalists Luis López and Gabriel González, the number of communication professionals who are being brought to trial in the electoral and post-electoral framework of the presidential elections on July 28 increases to five. Together with two activists from Voluntad Popular and Vente Venezuela, they were charged with attacking a military installation, inciting hatred and terrorism.
The telematic hearing lasted about 40 minutes in which journalists Luis López and Gabriel González, along with activists from the Voluntad Popular and Vente Venezuela parties in Vargas state, Jeancarlos Rivas and Juan “Kiko” Iriarte, listened to Judge Carlos’ decision. Liendo, of the Second Court of Control of the Metropolitan Area against Terrorism, who accepted the allegations of the Public Ministry and the three charges that were charged to the detainees: attacking a military installation, inciting hatred and terrorism.
During those 40 minutes, the four political prisoners, detained since June 14, 2024, listened to the concluding act of the Public Ministry.
In the allegations They were accused of participating in an alleged assault on the headquarters of the Citizen Security Command of the National Guard located in the Maiquetía parish, during the tour of the then candidate of the Democratic Unitary Platform, Edmundo González Urrutia, on June 8 of this year.
During that visit, González Urrutia approached some military personnel to shake their hands. López and González covered it and shared it on social networks. Rivas and Iriarte were standing near González Urrutia. These were the evidence collected by the Public Ministry.
Although the hearing, held in a room at the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) in El Helicoide, It took place last November 5, it was the 14th of this month when the relatives of López, González, Rivas and Iriarte received the information that they were going to trial and the court’s decision to deprive them of their liberty.
«We found out this week because it was basically a clandestine act. Although the family members were attentive and making sit-ins at the Second Terrorism Court of the metropolitan area of Caracas, waiting for the hearing, they did it electronically and did not notify it,” reported Mary López, sister of journalist Luis López, who practices in the diary The Truth of Vargas.
According to Luis López’s relative, due process continues to be violated. “The decision is maintained not to allow them a private defense nor to accept any precautionary measure, despite having no evidence for these charges.”
Mary López explained that according to what was discussed with her brother, Judge Liendo ordered the four defendants to plead guilty. If he did, he would reduce their sentence, Liendo promised, but none of them accepted.
«Public defenders Santos Rojas and Valentina Lewis They requested the application of an alternative measure so that they could be released. while the trial was taking place. The applicants alleged that there is not enough evidence to maintain the detention measure, but the judge refused,” said López’s sister.
With Luis López and Gabriel González, the number of journalism professionals who are being brought to trial in the electoral and post-electoral framework increases to five.
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