Venezuela opposition figure's son-in-law sentenced to 30 years
Rafael Tudares Bracho, son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in what the family call a political reprisal against Gonzalez Urrutia, who by many is seen as the rightful winner of last year's election in Venezuela.
Caracas (AFP) - The son-in-law of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, widely considered the victor of Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, has been sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment, the family said Wednesday, claiming he was the victim of political reprisal.
Rafael Tudares Bracho was arrested in January after being intercepted by hooded men while on his way to school with his two children in what his family has called a "forced disappearance." He was charged with terrorism.
His wife Mariana Gonzalez de Tudares said she had been informed Tudares Bracho was "sentenced to 30 years in prison for alleged serious crimes under Venezuelan criminal law, which, I reiterate, he has not committed: Rafael is innocent."
Prosecutors have not responded to AFP's requests for confirmation of the sentence, which his wife said followed a trial that lasted 12 hours in a single sitting last month.
"Political reprisal"
Gonzalez Urrutia, who went into exile after a bounty was placed on his head following Nicolas Maduro's claim to election victory, said the sentence was a political reprisal.
"This is a decision without legal basis, incompatible with the Constitution, and used as political retaliation to try to harm me and distort the will expressed by Venezuelans on July 28, 2024," Gonzalez Urrutia said in a message from abroad.
The little-known former diplomat was the stand-in candidate for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, barred by the state machinery from challenging Maduro in the July 2024 vote.
An opposition tally of ballots from polling stations showed Gonzalez Urrutia easily defeating Maduro, but the Socialist incumbent was proclaimed the winner -- sparking deadly riots which were brutally repressed.
Washington is among dozens of capitals to recognize Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela's rightful leader.
He shared the European Union's top human rights prize for having "fearlessly upheld" the values of justice, democracy and the rule of law with Machado, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October.