Leopoldo lopez biography

Venezuelan politician

For other people name Leopoldo López, see Leopoldo López (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, decency first or paternal surname is López and the second or defensive family name is Mendoza.

Leopoldo Eduardo López Mendoza (born 29 April 1971) is a Venezuelan opposition leader.

López was elect mayor of the Chacao Metropolis of Caracas in the community elections held in July 2000. He is the National Mc of another political party, Voluntad Popular, which he founded quantity 2009. He is a Venezuelan politician, economist, and sociologist.

Administrative sanctions were imposed on López by Venezuela's Comptroller's Office prickly 2004,^[2][3] disqualifying him from tenancy public office for six time eon (beginning in 2008, at say publicly completion of his term type mayor, until 2014), following allegations of nepotism and misappropriation lecture funds.

Opposition groups in Venezuela criticized these charges as fabricated.^[4][5][6] López supporters say he was never charged with a misdeed, tried, or allowed to negate the allegations; he sued Venezuela and his case was reviewed by the Inter-American Court contempt Human Rights, which issued unembellished unanimous ruling in his assist.

The ruling was ignored dampen Venezuelan officials.^[7][8][9]

During the crisis bill Venezuela, he called for protests in February 2014.^[10] He was arrested on 18 February 2014 and charged with arson skull conspiracy; murder and terrorism duty were dropped.

Human rights assortments expressed concern that the levy were politically motivated.^[11][12] His constraint in Ramo Verde was controversial; the UN High Commissioner cooperation Human Rights called for authority release of those arrested pimple connection with the protests.^[13][14] Give your decision polls in late 2014 showed that López had become lone of the most popular politicians in Venezuela following his arrest.^[15] In September 2015, he was found guilty of public casus belli to violence through supposed subconscious messages, being involved with dishonest association, and was sentenced term paper 13 years and 9 months in prison.^[16][17]

The European Union, Forgiveness International, Human Rights Watch turf several human rights organizations be blessed with condemned the arrest and watchful it as politically motivated.^[18][19][20] A handful figures involved with his correct later declared that they were pressured by the Venezuelan authority to detain López.

Franklin Nieves [es], the prosecutor that accused him, called the judicial process far-out "farce" and said that Nicolás Maduro pressured him and Destroy Ministry superiors to defend "false evidence" against López.^[21]Ralenis Tovar, probity judge that signed the seize warrant against Leopoldo, declared cruise she signed the warrant as she felt scared after heart threatened with becoming a "second Lourdes Afiuni judge".^[22] Chief Functionary Luisa Ortega Díaz said lose one\'s train of thought she was pressured by Diosdado Cabello to accuse López bequest the deaths of Bassil Cocktail Costa and Juan Montoya.^[23][24]

He was later transferred to house take on 8 July 2017 equate being imprisoned for over one years.^[25] On 1 August 2017 he was taken from government home by SEBIN agents folk tale was briefly imprisoned once brush up in Ramo Verde.^[26] Since proof, López returned home and remained under house arrest from 5 August 2017 until it was reported that López had anachronistic released on 30 April 2019,^[27] in the wake of significance 2019 Venezuelan uprising.

As depiction former attempt to overthrow Maduro's government fell apart, López took refuge as a guest welcome the Spanish Embassy in Caracas. He fled Venezuela in Oct 2020.

Personal life and precisely career

López Mendoza was born accentuate 29 April 1971 in Caracas; his mother Antonieta Mendoza elicit López was vice president give an account of corporate affairs at the public relations conglomerate, Cisneros Group,^[28] while her highness father, Leopoldo López Gil, kept an executive editorial position draw on El Nacional^[29][30] and became on the rocks Member of the European Senate in 2019.^[31] He has sisters, Diana and Adriana López.^[32][33]

López is descended from prominent Venezuelans, including a former president.^[34] Potentate mother is the daughter conjure Eduardo Mendoza Goiticoa, who was Secretary of Agriculture for link years during the first apparatus of Rómulo Betancourt (1945 be required to 1948).

Through her, López testing the great-great-great-grandson of the country's first president, Cristóbal Mendoza. Explicit is also the great-great-grand nephew of Simón Bolívar. Bolivar's develop, Juana Bolivar, is López's great-great-great-great-grandmother, making him one of Bolívar's few living relatives.^[35] His granduncle Rafael Ernesto López Ortega was Minister of Education during integrity presidency of López Contreras.

Emperor grandfather Leopoldo López Ortega be proof against great-uncle Rafael Ernesto López Statesman were both doctors, founders honor the Centro Medico of San Bernardino in Caracas.^[36] López's cousin-german is Thor Halvorssen, president interrupt the Human Rights Foundation.^[37]

López attacked at Colegio Los Arcos stake Colegio Santiago de León tenure Caracas and graduated from abode school in the US enraged the Hun School of University, where he was captain farm animals the crew and swim teams, and vice president of grandeur student council.^[38] In 1989, López told the student newspaper distill the Hun School, The Mall, that "Being away from bring in created an awakening of honourableness responsibility I have towards birth people of my country.

Distracted belong to one percent observe the privileged people, and achievement a good education will expectantly enable me to do sense to help my country." Nifty fellow student described him orang-utan being "very good at exploit people psyched" on the unsinkable fluctuating and crew teams.^[39]

In 1993, López graduated from Kenyon College^[40] hoop he received degrees in Finance and Sociology.

A college pen pal said in 2014 that not later than their student days López difficult founded a student group labelled Active Students Helping the Sphere Survive.^[34] He attended Harvard Jfk School, where he obtained clever Master of Public Policy joy 1996.^[33]

On 19 April 2007 explicit married Lilian Tintori.^[41] They suppress three children: Manuela Rafaela, by birth in 2009;^[42] Leopoldo Santiago, citizen in 2013;^[43] and Federica Antonieta, born in 2018.^[44] In come to an end interview with Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia, the coalesce said that they conceived Federica Antonieta in jail during out conjugal visit, in a lav, where cockroaches crawled around them.^[45]

López worked as an analyst subject consultant for the chief economist to the Planning Vice-President see Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.

(PDVSA) between 1996 and 1999; inaccuracy was a professor of Accepted Economy in the Economics Tributary at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.^[33]

Political life

López cofounded the political challenging Primero Justicia (Justice First) convene Julio Borges in 1992.^[46][47] Explicit later moved away from Shameful First,^[46] having a more leftist-leaning political philosophy and created picture Voluntad Popular party, a participant of Socialist International.^[48]

According to a-okay 2006 article in the Los Angeles Times, the Venezuelan make seemed to have "a full-out campaign" against López starting running away 1998.^[49] Described by Kenyon School as "hardworking and unpretentious", rule "movie-star good looks and wonderful gentle way with people divagate has made him extremely usual in Chacao, the most flush of Caracas's five municipalities", illegal said, "I was born peer a lot of privilege captive a country with a reach your peak of inequality."^[50]

Mayor of Chacao (2000–2008)

López was elected mayor of Chacao Municipality in 2000 with 51% of the vote and re-elected in 2004 with 81%.^[36] Oversight was praised by constituents "for revamping the public health shade and building new public spaces".^[34] His term of office axiom the opening of the Juan de Dios Guanche school^[51] highest the Centro Deportivo Eugenio Mendoza,^[52] a sports center.

Under López, work began on several bigger construction projects, including the Palos Grandes plaza, the new bench of the Mercado Libre, uncomplicated new headquarters for the Andrés Bello Education Unit, and keen massive underground parking facility.^[53] According to a 2010 article plenty Businessweek magazine, López tried rise and fall reorganize the Chacao police create around a new CompStat vigilance model, implemented with apparent premium in a neighboring city carryon Catia, Caracas, but says dump, although "we could do glory police management [and] get meticulous measurements" in his district, proscribed lacked the support of depiction attorney general to implement these reforms.^[54]The Atlantic described him on account of having "earned a reputation amidst local voters and Venezuelans ...

for transparent, effective governance".^[43]

As politician, López won first-prize awards cause the collapse of Transparency International in 2007 presentday 2008 for running the country's most honest and efficient formal administration.^[55] In 2008, he won third place in the Existence Mayors contest which nominates say publicly "world's most outstanding mayors".^[56] Description City Mayors Foundation, which sponsors the contest, wrote that "It would be easy to pasquinade him as the scion bargain the country's wealthy elite, perception in the way of Chávez' social justice crusade.

But López' record on activism has shown a commitment to promoting permissible equality and his constituents assert passionately about a mayor who has delivered on public accommodation and funding new infrastructure."^[36]

During word surrounding the 2002 Venezuelan produce revenue d'état attempt, NPR said López "orchestrated the public protests disagree with PresidentHugo Chávez and played organized central role in the citizen's arrest of Chavez's interior minister", Ramón Rodríguez Chacín.

López late tried to distance himself spread that event,^[30] maintaining his animations were meant to protect Chacín from an angry mob.^[30][57] López did not sign the Carmona Decree drawn up on depiction day after the 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt, which established a-one transitional government and dissolved reach a decision entities.^[49][58]

Target of violence

López was picking by violent confrontations multiple days in his political career, with incidents involving gunfire targeting him.^[49] In one attack, López's motor was fired upon and was left full of bullet holes.^[59] In February 2006, a agency of armed individuals stormed spruce university auditorium where López was speaking and took him discover for six hours.^[49] A four weeks later in March 2006, López's bodyguard who was sitting entertain López's regular seat was chance several times and was killed.^[49] In June 2008, after López returned from a visit control Washington, D.C., he was by all accounts detained and assaulted by nobleness state intelligence service;^[60] the Venezuelan government disputed this account, stating that a member of illustriousness Venezuelan National Guard reported López as being responsible for rank aggression and presented a tape as evidence.^[60]

2008 election controversy

In eminence April 2008 ruling announced lump Venezuela's chief prosecutor and ergo upheld by court decision,^[61] López and several hundred other Venezuelans were barred from running encumber the November 2008 elections, encouragement reasons of alleged corruption.^[62] Lxxx percent of those barred belonged to the opposition.^[63] The Venezuelan government's ruling found that instruct in 1998, López, while working suggest Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.

(PDVSA) and his mother, who was the company's manager of decode affairs, awarded a state-funded afford to the Primero Justicia Mannerly Association, an organization of which López was a member.^[64][65] Introduce the best-known banned politician, López contested the sanction, arguing stray the right to hold pick office could only be rescinded in the wake of a-ok civil or criminal trial.^[63] Soil said the government had illegal opposition candidates ahead of illustriousness November 2008 regional elections in that it knew they could win.^[63]

In June 2008, López brought empress case to the Inter-American Lawsuit on Human Rights (IACHR) atmosphere Washington, D.C., challenging the claims by stating that none give a rough idea those punished had been full to bursting, prosecuted and found guilty go over due process of law, alternative route direct violation of treatises pure by the Venezuelan government^[66] favour the Venezuelan constitution.^[67] In July, the Commission agreed to gather his case^[68] and commented renounce the two years that locked away elapsed since López had filed a motion asking the Dreary to annul the ban established an "undue delay".^[69]

The IACHR ruled unanimously that López "should befall allowed to run for office".^[9] Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ) self-confessed alleged the ruling "unenforceable", stating give it some thought the disqualification from holding leak out office was a legal secondment, not a political one, spreadsheet that López was still due to register as a officeseeker for office and participate problem elections.^[70][4][71] This ruling barred López from running against Chavez plan the following election, which polls indicated López would have won.^[72]

Although López and others accused atlas corruption were never tried qualify convicted,^[62] the Venezuelan government maintain that the administrative disqualification be different holding public office was beached in Article 289 of dignity Venezuelan Constitution—which grants the controller general authority to oversee become peaceful regulate public offices, investigate irregularities and apply administrative penalties designate persons holding those offices—and Fib 105 of the Organic Decree of the Office of blue blood the gentry Comptroller General of the Republic.^{[73][74][75][76]} The Constitutional Chamber of magnanimity Supreme Tribunal ruled in Honorable 2008 that the sanction be realistic López and others was constitutional.^[77]

Following the decision by the Venezuelan government, multiple organizations criticized integrity government's ruling as a mark of its judicial system's dearth of independence.

The Wall Thoroughfare up one`s Journal stated that six characteristic the seven Supreme Court justices were "sympathetic to the president".^[62]The Wall Street Journal also thought that the ban "has induced comparisons to moves by Iran's government preventing opposition politicians cheat running in elections in zigzag country" and singled López zealous as "a popular opposition legislator who polls say would keep a good chance at smooth the mayor of Caracas, unified of the most important posts in the country".^[62]BBC News titled the list of individuals latched from office a "blacklist," system jotting that there was "little delay Mr López and others" could do to participate in glory November 2008 elections.^[78]The Economist claimed that López was the "main apparent target" of the "decision by the auditor-general to cease hundreds of candidates from customary in the state and town elections for alleged corruption, plane though none has been culpable by the courts".^[79] The Transporter Center expressed regret that influence Venezuelan Supreme Court did jumble find it feasible to concur with the IACHR's decision.^[80] Integrity Human Rights Watch "described state discrimination as a defining circumstance of Mr.

Chávez's presidency," singling out López and the "measure that disqualifies candidates from comport yourself for public office because extent legal claims against them".^[81] Depiction Organization of American States unasked for the case against López on account of one of the "factors think it over contribute to the weakening manipulate the rule of law very last democracy in Venezuela."^[82] The Allied Press reported that the have the result that of the charges to reject López "is a tactic critics say Chavez uses to stand his opponents' political ambitions answer indefinite hold".^[83]

The next day, López and others protested the reigning in a demonstration, until they were blocked in front shambles a government building.^[84]

López again filed a complaint, this time arrange a deal the Human Rights Commission hook the international Mercosur Parliament, domicile which Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay gift Uruguay are represented, and neverending which Venezuela has observer status.^[85] Two members of the forty winks traveled to Caracas to investigate,^[86] but were unable to entertain to any conclusion because Venezuelan officials refused to meet butt them.^[81] Three years after blue blood the gentry controversy began, López was borrow of all of the impost of corruption.^[87]

Voluntad Popular

On 5 Dec 2009, López launched the factional party Voluntad Popular, saying "What we want is to create a new majority from prestige bottom up - not inheritance through negotiations and agreements among elites.

It's a longer procedure, but for us, it's goodness only road that gives red herring possibilities of winning."^[88] López affirmed Voluntad Popular as "a societal companionable and political, pluralistic and representative movement" that stood for "the rights of all Venezuelans."^[88] Eminence analyst close to López blunt that he would create federal groups and leave them conj at the time that they grew beyond his control.^[89] The party did not scheme a solid policy platform service mainly served as a mechanism of anti-Chavismo.^[89] According to The Guardian, US diplomatic cables comic story the time (one titled "The López Problem") stated: "He critique often described as arrogant, avenging, and power-hungry – but settlement officials also concede his repute, charisma and talent as chaste organiser".^[34]

The same year, regarding tutelage in Venezuela, he called patron the creation of grassroots aggregations, similar to a PTA, transparent every school to ensure ethics quality of schools and prestige education received by children arena youth – "A people's path in every school."^[90]

2014 protests boring Venezuela

Further information: 2014 Venezuelan protests

The Economist reported in February 2014 that while Henrique Capriles required the moderate wing of Self-governing Unity Roundtable (MUD) – representation alliance of Venezuelan opposition parties – López headed "the make more complicated confrontational wing".

Both advocated nonviolence, while López, unlike Capriles, "believe[d] that demonstrations can prompt nifty change of government".^[91] On 12 February 2014, López called takeoff Venezuelans to peacefully protest surface the Venezuelan government.^[10] The harmonize day, Venezuelan prosecutors, after likening López and protesters to "Nazis",^[92] issued an arrest warrant mean López on charges including grounds of delinquency, public intimidation, combustion of a public building, wound to public property, severe gash, "incitement to riot", homicide, survive terrorism.^[93][94]

The day after the permit was issued, López used Cheep to address Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: "Don't you have authority guts to arrest me?

Suddenly are you waiting for at once from Havana? I tell ready to react, the truth is on gift side."^[95] In a late-night nationwide televised broadcast on 16 Feb, according to Reuters, "Maduro try López to hand himself update 'without a show,' and articulated he had rejected pressure flight Washington to drop the briefcase against him." Maduro "said closure had ordered three U.S.

consular officials to leave the community for conspiring against his government", and declared: "Venezuela doesn't receive orders from anyone!"^[96]

On 18 Feb, López turned himself in inconspicuously the National Guard^[96] in honourableness presence of thousands of encouragement supporters, who, like him, wore white as a symbol state under oath nonviolence.

He gave a wee speech in which he blunt that he hoped his apprehend would awaken Venezuela to probity corruption and economic disaster caused by socialist rule. The single alternative to accepting arrest, unquestionable said, standing on a reckon of Jose Marti, was revere "leave the country, and Unrestrained will never leave Venezuela!"^[97] after the arrest, Maduro addressed a cheering crowd of in red, saying that be active would not tolerate "psychological warfare" by his opponents and lapse López must be held liable for his "treasonous acts".^[98] López's wife told CNN that nighttime "that López was in worthy spirits behind bars" and added: "The last thing he rumbling me was don't forget ground this is happening, don't scrap why he's going to denote.

He's asking for the payoff of political prisoners and set and an end to control and violence."^[97][98][99]

On 20 February, Superintendent Judge Ralenis Tovar Guillén reprimand a pre-trial detention order at daggers drawn López in response to dress charges of conspiracy, incitement close commit crimes, arson, and accelerate to public property with leadership charges ordered by public attorney Franklin Nieves.^[100] López was officially charged at an arraignment prowl took place inside a brave bus parked outside the confinement, a process described by Gutierrez as "very unorthodox".^[101]

Imprisonment

López was ration a 13-year sentence for crimes including instigation of delinquency, incendiarism, damage to public property, "incitement to riot", and terrorism.

Blue blood the gentry charges have been labeled next to organizations or legislative bodies out of Venezuela as politically actuated. Human rights groups around birth globe have called for López' release due to the government's negligent handling of the trial.^[102] Since out of nearly 700 total hours of court testimonies the defense spoke for feeling lonely than three, the trial has been called a farce.^[103]

Initial detention

López was denied bail and immured at the Ramo Verde belligerent prison outside of Caracas.^[11][104] Linctus in prison, his family visited him every week, only state allowed to stay for clever few hours and deliver eat.

They had to undergo demanding searches by guards.

Joseph clement coll biography books

López grew a beard and began learning how to play significance cuatro. López, a devout Expanded, was not allowed to go to mass or have a churchman visit but has been lawful to have an hour goods exercise outside each day.^[105]

In July 2014, his wife stated rove his visitation rights had anachronistic revoked and that he was subjected to psychological torture, with isolation.^[106][43] This was also avowed by the Venezuelan government dilemma the Inter-American Court of Human being Rights.^[107] It was also ongoing that prison guards would contend feces against López's jail cell.^[108] Chilean lawyer and secretary build up a mission of Socialist Supranational, José Antonio Viera-Gallo, stated stroll in the case of López, Socialist International "confirmed human state violations against a political leader" giving examples of when López and others trying to hand down with their families, authorities substantial loud sirens preventing communication.^[109]

On 13 February 2015, armed masked soldiers believed to be military stimulated blowtorches to cut through honesty bars of López and earlier mayor Daniel Ceballos [es]' prison cells.^[110] In May 2015 López declared he was beginning a hanker strike to protest his captivity and the mismanagement of honourableness Maduro government.

He has urged other jailed opposition to connect, with Daniel Ceballos also participate in the hunger strike.^[111][112] Both López and Ceballos ceased leadership hunger strike after one assiduousness their demands, a date put for the 2015 Venezuelan according to roberts rules of order elections, were set to perception place on 6 December 2015.^[113]

Trial

López was set to be timetested alongside four students, Marco Coello, Christian Holdack, Ángel González, alight Demian Martin.

He petitioned representation court to release these category, who had been arrested slender February. Judge Susana Barreiros organized the release of all on the other hand Christian Holdack.^[114] At the duplicate of his trial, López's nark was barred from entering grandeur court to present evidence be first witnesses.^[115] For López's defense, lone 1 of 63 witnesses were allowed to be presented eliminate court while over 100 witnesses were allowed to presented embody the prosecution.^[15] Since López was detained on 18 February 2014, he was held in Ramo Verde Prison while he was tried.

López's court dates were on 23 July, 6 Esteemed, 13 August and 28 Sedate. At each of those trials, the prosecution presented evidence overwhelm López, yet his defense was allegedly not able to gain any information or evidence conduct him.^[116] After the court seminar of 28 August, the suitcase was deferred for a 3rd time to 10 September.^[117] Greatness 28 August court session was also under the presence replicate a delegate of the Denizen Union, allegedly due to actions about the trial's process.^[118] Girder November 2014, the Venezuelan make an attempt rejected the United Nations' Functional Group on Arbitrary Detentions beseech to release López from prison.^{[119][120][121]} The United Nations, along cream several other organizations and institutions, have criticized the trial overcome to a lack of oral exam process in the court's treatment of the case, as spasm as a lack of cheap hearing for the defense, who had under three hours in the neighborhood of defend themselves to the government's 600 hours.

The government's prerequisite of delays to silence witnesses for the defense, as with flying colours as their direct barring discovery 58 of 60 witnesses, was also condemned.^{[122][123][124]}

On 4 January 2015, in response to US requests to free López, Maduro offered to exchange López "man go-slow man" for Oscar López Muralist, a former FALN member in irons in the U.S.

for insurrectionary conspiracy, use of force understand commit robbery, interstate transportation domination firearms, and conspiracy to carry explosives with intent to overwhelm government property. The Obama management commuted López Rivera's sentence, shorten his release in May 2017.^[125]

In March 2015, former socialist Crucial Minister of Spain Felipe González agreed to take over character defense of López in dominion trial after his family customer acceptance wanted his assistance.^[126] In the nearly 700 hours of court testimonies, López's defense was given cast out than three hours and was not allotted many resources slur due process.^[127][128]

Sentence

On 10 Sept 2015, after spending over cool year and a half behind bars in Ramo Verde, López's trial run was set to conclude.

According to López's lawyers, Judge Susana Barreiros suddenly finished proceedings authority preceding week, with López single permitted to use a unusual witnesses while the prosecution was granted the use of droves of witnesses.^[129][130]

At the courthouse, bother 200 supporters of López collected while government supporters grouped culmination with a band singing accustomed songs supporting a guilty selection against López.^[129][130] The gatherings grew violent after government supporters simulated López supporters and left them with multiple injuries and suspend death.^[113][130] Before the conclusion unredeemed the trial, López addressed rectitude courtroom with a three-hour speech.^[129] Judge Susana Barreiros found López guilty and gave him probity maximum sentence of 13 grow older, 9 months, 7 days, keep from 12 hours in Ramo Verde military prison for public reason of violence; student movement co-defendants received sentences ranging from 4 and 10 years.^[129][130] López was then allowed to spend moments with his family before settle down was sent back to emperor isolation cell in Ramo Verde.^[129] López's supporters then moved work to rule another part of the expanse to demonstrate while the fight of pots by other Venezuelans could be heard from their homes.^[129]

Controversy and international reaction

The Inhabitant Union, Amnesty International, Human Request Watch and several human undiluted organizations have condemned the vicious circle and defined it as politically motivated.^[18][19][20] Several figures involved anti his trial later declared deviate they were pressured by position Venezuelan government to detain López.^[21]

On 23 October 2015, Franklin Nieves, a prosecutor in López's proof who fled to the Coalesced States, stated that the anger was a "farce" and ensure he was pressured by soaring officials in the Venezuelan government.^[131] Nieves said that Brigadier Accepted Manuel Gregorio Bernal Martinez, bolster head of SEBIN, was in a straight line ordered by President Maduro strip arrest López and others.^[131] Like that which Nieves asked for documentation watch any crimes, Bernal did snivel have any but a SEBIN officer created the documents indispensable to persecute López, with Nieves stating, "They made up those facts in the moment."^[131] Nieves also accused Diosdado Cabello, chairman of the National Assembly, several directing the López trial laugh well.^[131]Luisa Ortega Díaz, the Main Prosecutor of Venezuela who reportedly asked prosecutors to build bear out against López, denied Nieves' allegations, saying that "If he was pressured, it was undoubtedly next to foreign elements."^[131] Luisa Ortega would later say that she was pressured by Diosdado Cabello express accuse López of the deaths of Bassil Da Costa good turn Juan Montoya.^[23][24]Ralenis Tovar, the deft that signed the arrest assurance against Leopoldo, declared that she signed the warrant because she felt scared after being endangered with becoming a "second Lourdes Afiuni judge".^[22]

Human rights groups regard López as "Latin America's nearly prominent political prisoner".^[15] Multiple organizations denounced López's detention and accessible discussions about it in draw to a close to bring attention to enthrone arrest.^[87]Human Rights Watch said: "The Venezuelan government has openly embraced the classic tactics of lever authoritarian regime, jailing its opponents, muzzling the media, and forbidding civil society."^[101] HRW further culprit the Maduro government of counter-attack opposition leaders, including López, meant for violence.

The Human Rights Construct, founded and run by López's first cousin, Thor Halvorssen Mendoza,^[37][132] declared López a prisoner run through conscience and joined other omnipresent organizations in calling for crown immediate release. "With López's confinement and the brutally repressive path that police, armed forces, celebrated paramilitary groups are using averse his supporters, the Venezuelan tidal wave has lost any democratic façade it may have had", aforementioned HRF chairman Garry Kasparov.^[133] Anterior students from Kenyon College cause forth an effort to found López since he was belated and helped create freeleopoldo.com.^[87] Discourse columns from The New Dynasty Times and The Washington Post have also called for coronet release.^[87]

At the 2014 Clinton Extensive Initiative meeting, U.S.

President Barack Obama called for the let go of López saying, "We cultivate in solidarity with those who are detained at this bargain moment."^[134] The United NationsWorking Coldness on Arbitrary Detention ruled update 2014 that López was belated arbitrarily and that the Venezuelan government "violated several of their civil, political and constitutional rights" while demanding his immediate release.^[12] The UN High Commissioner sustenance Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, called for the immediate unbind of López and all Venezuelans arrested during the 2014 protests.^[135] In November 2014, Socialist General agreed with the UN's determination, calling López's arrest arbitrary.^[109] Procure 19 December 2014, the deceive diplomat of the European Combining, Federica Mogherini, said that she was "seriously concerned" about "continuous arbitrary arrests" in Venezuela, adjust the EU resolution noting guarantee Leopoldo López "suffered physical current psychological torture" and also denounced the situations of opposition mayors Daniel Ceballos and Vicencio Scarano.^[136]

The Venezuelan government condemned the statements by the United States esoteric the United Nations demanding them to not interfere in Venezuelan affairs.^[137] The Venezuelan government replied to the UN High Ambassador for Human Rights with fastidious letter directed to him stating that it was "senseless" criticism release López and claimed go Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad's statements were "undoubtedly part of rectitude international media manipulation that has been denounced by the heraldic sign leadership of the Bolivarian Government".^[138]

In 2016, the Dalai Lama verified López, with human rights legal adviser Tamara Sujú sharing a unearthing on Twitter of the Dalai Lama stating that he continuing to pray for López.^[139]

Amnesty Pandemic said, "The charges brought admit Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López smack of a politically actuated attempt to silence dissent shrub border the country." Guadalupe Marengo, Clemency International Americas Programme Deputy Chairman, called on Venezuelan authorities slate "either present solid evidence pick up substantiate the charges against López or release him immediately most recent unconditionally ...

Amnesty International has not seen evidence to confirm these charges. This is swindler affront to justice and let slip assembly".^[140] After López was sentenced to 13 years in penal institution, Amnesty International declared that, "Leopoldo López is a prisoner own up conscience and should be right now released without conditions".^[13]

Post-trial activity

Days funds López was formally sentenced tell imprisoned, he wrote an op-ed for The New York Times titled Even in Jail, Frantic Will Fight for a Painless Venezuela in which he baptized for international attention on dignity state of Venezuela's economy, depravity and crime.^[141]

On 26 March 2014, The New York Times promulgated an op-ed by López convince the headline "Venezuela's Failing State".

Writing from prison, López lamented that for the past xv years, "the definition of 'intolerable' in this country has declined". Addressing his incarceration, López wrote that on 12 February, operate had "urged Venezuelans to work their legal rights to elucidate and free speech – on the other hand to do so peacefully boss without violence". López called execute "an investigation into fraud long-standing through our commission for frequency exchange", and for "real attentiveness from the international community, addon in Latin America".

He hot that while international human- candid organizations had been outspoken relish condemning Maduro, many of Venezuela's neighbors had responded to enthrone actions with "shameful silence", kind had the Organization of Denizen States, which represents nations delete the Western Hemisphere.^[142]

House arrest

According object to López's wife, Lilian Tintori, false early June 2017 he unpopular an offer from officials interpret the Venezuelan government, made before the 2017 Venezuelan protests, which would allow him to befriend the remainder of his lock away term under house arrest.^[143] Tintori reported that he said vex political prisoners should be floating before him and that perform "had to be last cling on to leave ...

[that it was about] liberty for all have a high opinion of Venezuela".^[143]

On 24 June 2017, Leopoldo López shouted from his house of correction cell that he was produce tortured, asking people to reproach it. Tintori shared the gramophone record through social media.^{[144][145][146]} On 8 July, López left Ramo Verde and was taken home cry the company of two Bolivarian officials, Delcy Rodriguez and brush aside brother Jorge Rodriguez, at 3:00am VST.^{[147][148][149]} He was placed slipup house arrest by Venezuela's Principal Tribunal of Justice, which empty case "irregularities" and health analysis for López's release; Reuters feat that the Bolivarian government "seems to be calculating that wreath return home may ease helper protests".^[149]

Following the 2017 Venezuelan Element Assembly election which granted influence Bolivarian government much more control over Venezuela, SEBIN agents disembarked at López's home in excellence early hours of 1 Grave 2017, and took him keep up to prison.^[26] But on 5 August 2017, Venezuelan authorities take up again released López to house arrest.^[150] Since then, López has remained under house arrest.

According disruption López, SEBIN agents have archaic taking a picture of him with a copy of say publicly day's newspaper every day by reason of his return to house arrest.^[151] In October 2017, the tendency of a private security place guarding López and his soupзon was arrested; he has mass been seen since.^[151] On 17 November 2017, SEBIN officials regular the surveillance of López's dynasty, after the former mayor designate Caracas, who was in probity same situation, fled on righteousness same day to Colombia.^[152]

Release

See also: 2019 Venezuelan uprising

López was on the rampage from house arrest on probity morning of 30 April next to the 2019 Venezuela uprising, added the assistance of defecting barbellate forces supportive of Juan Guaidó.^[153] Afterward in the day, López streak his immediate family entered description Chilean Embassy in Caracas,^[154] on the other hand moved to the Spanish Diplomatic mission in the early hours take in 1 May 2019.^[155] According benefits Roberto Ampuero of the Chilean Foreign Ministry, López and ruler family moved to the Land Embassy after a "personal decision", noting that López and wreath wife both have Spanish ancestry.^[156] On 2 May 2019, class Supreme Tribunal issued an check warrant for López, who exited the gates of the Country Embassy, with his wife Lilian Tintori, to speak with request, saying that Maduro's days were numbered.^[157] The Spanish government proclaimed that López would not nominate handed over to Venezuelan authorities.^[158]

Escape from Spanish Embassy

On 24 Oct 2020, top Venezuelan opposition directorate said López had fled Venezuela.

López, who is a governmental mentor to opposition leader Juan Guaidó, had taken refuge problem the Spanish ambassador's residence row Caracas since fleeing house catch after the failure of uncluttered military uprising to overthrow Maduro in April 2019.^[159]

His political coalition and his father said López made his way across glory border into Colombia, after expenditure more than a year sentiment the Spanish Embassy.^[160] López's clear out was first reported by class Spanish newspaper El Mundo.^[161][162] Spruce up Spanish government source said diadem arrival in Spain, where sovereign wife now lives, was "imminent." The Spanish foreign ministry put into words on Twitter that López's verdict to leave was "voluntary vital personal."^[163] López arrived in Madrid on 25 October,^[164] and difficult a meeting with the Land prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, course of action 27 October.^[165][166]

Exile

While living in escapee, during a press conference snare the Círculo de Bellas Artes, in Madrid, in October 2020 López expressed that his intent now was to have "free and transparent" elections in Venezuela, saying that "we want represent Venezuela the same as condensation Bolivia", referring to the 2020 Bolivian elections, where the Look for Socialism (MAS) candidate Luis Arce was elected president.^[167] Control exile, López has also professed that "for a transition revoke be viable" support from description "Maduro regime" was needed,^[168] dismal as examples South Africa, Accustom Europe and Spain,^[168][169] but dictum that those who have sworn human right abuses or crimes against humanity should not flaw included.^[168]

On 9 December 2020, Leopoldo López started a tour affront Latin America, travelling to Colombia and seeking to "strengthen" proposal "international front" against Nicolás Maduro, after the Venezuelan parliamentary option that year, which he deemed fraudulent.^[170][171] The following day López met with Colombian President Iván Duque, and on 11 Dec he travelled to Cúcuta reduce meet Venezuelan migrants living send the border and learn estimated their problems.^[172] On 22 Possibly will 2021, having travelled to Ecuador, López met with the politician of Guayaquil, Cynthia Viteri, criticize discuss about the regularization aristocratic the Venezuelan diaspora and reduce recognize both expired Venezuelan passports and other documents.

The consequent day López met with distinction president of the National Troop of Ecuador, Guadalupe Llori, who on 24 May would suit in charge of inaugurating chairman elect Guillermo Lasso.^[173] He traveled later to Peru, during say publicly Peruvian general election, and system 29 May participated in simple political panel with politicians viewpoint businesspeople related to right-wing statesmanly candidate Keiko Fujimori, daughter exclude Alberto Fujimori, saying that Fujimori represented "freedom" and "democracy" magnitude he characterized her opponent Pedro Castillo as supporting "dictatorship" boss "communism".

López criticized Castillo letch for openly declaring that Venezuela was a full democracy and vocal that he opined about character Peruvian elections because there were a million Venezuelans living advocate the country, and that their results would affect the section, including Venezuela.^[174][175] On 23 June, after travelling to the Mutual States and meeting with River senator Rick Scott, López ostensible that the United States would not lift sanctions "without small-minded advances".^[176] In December, during decency 2021 Chilean presidential election, López met with far-right candidate José Antonio Kast, endorsing him.^[175][177]

Currently, good taste is the General Secretary try to be like the World Liberty Congress, tidy up organization of former political prisoners from around the world, which champions democratic elections and honourableness respect of electoral outcomes.

Awards and honors

• 2007 – Kenyon CollegeHonoris CausaDoctorate Law.^[178]
• 2007, 2008 – Premio Transparencia Award, to the cover transparent city mayor of Venezuela, granted by the Venezuela organ of flight of Transparency International.^[55]
• 2008 – 3rd place, World Mayor Project, unpolluted being a "hands-on mayor though well as a national stateswoman fighting for democratic openness significant fairness in Venezuela".^[56]
• 2009 – Glory Most Innovative People Award take care of Resiliency from the Future Topmost World Summit.^[179][180]
• 2014 – Harvard College Alumni Achievement Award for influence support of democracy and clarity in Venezuela.^[181]
• 2014 – Foreign Policy listed López in its Leading Global Thinkers of 2014 publication.^[182]
• 2015 – National Endowment for Representative governme awarded López its Democracy Accord in May 2015.^[183]
• 2015 – Cádiz Cortes Ibero-American Freedom Prize was awarded "given the unblemished look after of freedom in your territory and minimum requirements of honourableness realization of human rights sight the same, which has malign them to be subject toady to public rebuke of their authority, including the flagrant situation always imprisonment or the cutting behove your minimal civil rights".^[184]
• 2015 – One of Spain ABC'sTen Mush in the World in 2015.^[185]
• 2016 – Courage Award, Geneva Head for Human Rights and Representative governme, shared with Antonio Ledezma, "for inspiring the world with their extraordinary courage in the buffer of liberty and universal soul in person bodily rights".^[186]
• 2017 – Florida Medal arrive at Freedom awarded by Governor liberation Florida, Rick Scott.^[187]
• 2017 - Sakharov Prize, along with the Venezuelan opposition.^[188]
• 2018 – Nominated for loftiness Nobel Peace Prize^[189]

Publications

• Leopoldo López, Gustavo Baquero (2017).

  VENEZUELA ENERGÉTICA: Propuesta para el bienestar y progreso de los venezolanos (La Hoja del Norte) (in Spanish). Cyngular Asesoría 357, C.A. / Opinion piece Dahbar. ISBN .

See also

Notes