Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez raise their hands during a press conference following the announcement by the National Electoral Council that Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro won the presidential election, in Caracas, Venezuela, July 29, 2024.
Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre said on Tuesday that the Central American government was prepared to give political asylum or refuge status to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.
"We have been informed of arrest warrants against Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez," Andre said in a video message, saying he was prepared to grant asylum and refuge to them, and "all other politically persecuted people in Venezuela, especially those who are refugees in the Argentine embassy in Caracas."
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who declared his election victory shortly after midnight on Monday while the opposition and independent pollsters contested the result, has ordered military and police patrols across the country from Wednesday.
Costa Rica's presidency has rejected the results proclaiming Maduro's win and called them fraudulent.
Persons:
Maria Corina Machado, Edmundo Gonzalez, Nicolas Maduro, Costa, Arnoldo Andre, Andre, pollsters, Costa Rica's, Maduro's
Organizations:
National Electoral Council, Central American, Argentine
Locations:
Caracas, Venezuela, Costa Rica's, Venezuelan, Argentine