Venezuelan judges seek asylum at Chilean embassy
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Judges
Santiago de Chile, Aug. 2, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Two judges who were named by Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly to Supreme Court posts have sought protection at the Chilean embassy in Caracas, Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz confirmed on Wednesday.
Beatriz Ruiz Marin and Jose Nunez Sifontes are “guests” of the embassy and will receive asylum if requested, Munoz wrote on Twitter.
Another judge, Elenis Del Valle Rodriguez, sought asylum at the embassy on Saturday.
The three judges are part of a group of 33 Supreme Court justices sworn in on July 21 by the National Assembly, where a coalition of more than 30 opposition parties holds a two-third majority.
The coalition, known as the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), accuses President Nicolas Maduro of seeking to cripple the legislative and judicial branches in order to maintain a grip on power.
Venezuela held an election on Sunday called by Maduro to elect deputies to a Constituent Assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution.
Out of Venezuela’s 19.4 million eligible voters, the government said some 8.1 million cast ballots on Sunday.
The opposition has disputed the government figures, putting turnout at 2.3 million.
The opposition warns that, once convened, the Constituent Assembly’s main objective will be to dissolve the National Assembly, the unicameral legislature.
Opposition politician Roberto Enriquez has resided in Caracas’ Chilean embassy since the beginning of April, citing the political situation in Venezuela as grounds to seek protection. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Maharazu Ahmed