(CNN) –– Venezuela's Supreme Court on Friday announced the disqualification of opposition member María Corina Machado's presidential candidacy.
“Citizen MARÍA CORINA MACHADO PARISCA is suspended from exercising public functions for fifteen (15) years pursuant to Resolution 01-00-000285 dated September 16, 2021. The court said.
The decision comes amid growing accusations by the public ministry against activists and protesters accused of being behind an assassination plot against President Nicolás Maduro.
CNN has reached out to Machado's team for comment on the matter and is awaiting a response.
On December 15, Machado went to the Supreme Court to appeal the political disqualification that bars him from running for and holding public office. A measure previously issued by the Comptroller General of the Republic and deemed illegal by the President.
The lawyer representing Machado, Perkins Rocha, reported via social media that once, he was denied access to examine the file. A situation the attorney considered put his client in “a dangerous situation of insecurity,” preventing her from knowing about the process.
María Corina Machado's political movement condemned the arrest of several members
Three days earlier, on Tuesday, January 23, the Vente Venezuelan political movement, coordinated by Machado, condemned the arrest of three members of the force within a week.
The organization's lawyer, Perkins Rocha, confirmed that Juan Freitz, director of the campaign command in La Guerra state, and Luis Camagarro, who holds the same position in Yaragui state, have been detained. On January 17, the Public Ministry confirmed the arrest of Victor Venegas, who served in the state of Barinas as Vende Venezuela's political secretary, for involvement in a conspiracy and “engaging in the development of activities against the peace of peace.” Republic”, and before he was arrested, he assured that he had done nothing wrong.
CNN contacted the Ministry of Public Affairs for information on reports of recent arrests, but we have not yet received a response. However, Venezuela's Attorney General, Tarek William Sapp, has promised to prosecute what he has identified as accomplices in five reported plots in recent days.
He did not name those arrested, but promised that those arrested would be prosecuted “for attacking the Venezuelan state and disturbing the peace of citizens.”
News in development…
