Jul 13, 2021 - World

Guaidó threatened with arrest as ally faces terrorism charges in Venezuela

Rebecca Falconer

Juan Guaido, president of the National Assembly who swore himself as the leader of Venezuela, center, speaks with members of the media outside his home in Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday — Juan Guaidó, president of Venezuela's National Assembly (c) outside his home in Caracas on Monday. Photo: Manaure Quintero/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Venezuelan prosecutors charged opposition politician Freddy Guevara, a close ally of National Assembly president Juan Guaidó, with offenses including terrorism and treason following his arrest on a Caracas highway Monday, per Reuters.

Of note: Guaidó, recognized by the U.S. and other countries as Venezuela's interim president, said "armed groups" seeking his arrest had visited his home soon after.

Why it matters: Representatives of President Nicolás Maduro's government and opposition leaders are due to meet in Mexico next month to resume negotiations, mediated by officials from Norway, which have stalled since 2019, according to Reuters.

What they're saying: Julie Chung, Acting Assistant Secretary for the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said in a statement: "We strongly condemn the arrest of Venezuelan Congressman Freddy Guevara and threats against Interim President Juan Guaido."

Go deeper... The day Maduro almost fell: The inside story of a failed uprising

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Guaidó threatened with arrest as ally faces terrorism charges in Venezuela

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