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Venezuela Offers $100,000 Bounty for Edmundo González Accused of Conspiracy; González to Meet Milei in Argentina

Jan 2, 2025, 10:39 PM

On January 2, 2025, the Venezuelan government announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia, aged 75. González, who claims to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in the presidential election held on July 28, 2024, is accused by authorities of crimes including "conspiracy", "usurpation of functions", "stirring unrest", and "association to commit crimes". The Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas (CICPC), along with the GNB and Sebin, have issued wanted posters, displaying them at airports, including the Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport, as well as at border checkpoints and roadblocks. After being granted political asylum by Spain on December 20, González departed from Madrid and is en route to Argentina. He is scheduled to meet with Argentine President Javier Milei on January 4 at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. The opposition party Voluntad Popular has called on Venezuelans in Argentina to support González during his visit. The meeting comes just days before the January 10 inauguration date in Venezuela, intensifying tensions. President Milei has publicly supported González's claim to the presidency, further straining relations with the Maduro government. Previously, the reward for González's capture was initially reported to be $500,000 before being adjusted to $100,000. The Venezuelan government's announcement has intensified efforts to locate and arrest González, with security agencies disseminating his wanted poster through various channels.