Venezuela: Sentence against opposition leader shows utter lack of ju..
The 13 years and nine months prison sentence against a Venezuelan opposition leader without any credible evidence against him shows an utter lack of judicial independence and impartiality in the country, said Amnesty International.
"The charges against Leopoldo Lopez were never adequately substantiated and the prison sentence against him is clearly politically motivated. His only `crime' was being leader of an opposition party in Venezuela," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.
"He should have never been arbitrarily arrested or tried in the first place. He is a prisoner of conscience and must be released immediately and unconditionally."
"With this decision, Venezuela is choosing to ignore basic human rights principles and giving the green light to more abuses."
Christian Holdack, Demian Martin and Angel Gonzalez, who were tried alongside Leopoldo Lopez, were also found guilty but will spend their sentences outside of prison.
In the case of Christian Holdack, the Public Prosecutor's Office indictment, to which Amnesty International has also had access, contains no credible evidence to support the charges against him.
Background Information
Leopoldo Lopez, leader of the opposition party Voluntad Popular, handed himself in to the National Guard (Guardia Nacional) on 18 February 2014 after a mass anti-government demonstration he organized. He was charged with terrorism, murder and grievous bodily harm, public incitement, arson
damages to property and conspiracy to commit crimes.
In August 2014, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that Lopez's detention was arbitrary and the High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the authorities to release him immediately.
Forty-three people died, including members of the security forces, and hundreds were injured during the protests that swept Venezuela in the first half of 2014. Scores were ill-treated and thousands detained. Victims and their relatives are still awaiting justice.