Venezuela: another opposition deputy fled to Colombia

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Congressman Richard Blanco confirmed to The Associated Press that early Monday he passed into the neighboring country through an illegal passage or passage.

Venezuelan opposition deputy Richard Blanco, who was opened by judicial authorities along with other colleagues, fled to Colombia on Monday after staying in the residence of the Argentine embassy in Caracas for more than a month. The congressman confirmed to The Associated Press that early Monday morning he passed to the neighboring country through an illegal road or passage. "I decided to take the road and continue to another course that I will later inform in order to ask for humanitarian aid for Venezuela," said the congressman in a telephone conversation with the news agency. Blanco, member of the opposition party Alianza al Bravo Pueblo and the parliamentary faction July 16, explained that he took this decision because of the diplomatic rules that prevented him from offering statements. "I was tormented by the fact of silencing my voice," he added. On the Twitter account of the deputy, a photograph of Blanco walking down a dirt road near a river and in which he explains that he is on his way to Colombia, was broadcast.

In another post later, the deputy reported that he was already in Cúcuta, specifically in the Casa Hogar Madre de la Divina Providencia, located in Barrio Cundinamarca. "We will raise our voices strongly about what happens in our country, they will not shut me up," he said.

Blanco had entered the Argentine diplomatic residence on May 9 after the authorities decided to prosecute him for at least six crimes against the State and the ruling National Constituent Assembly rallied his parliamentary immunity, along with other of his colleagues, for accompanying the opposition leader Juan Guaidó in the uprising last April 30. In the last month and a half, 15 deputies have been affected. One of them, the first vice-president of parliament Edgar Zambrano, is being held at the headquarters of the military police; three are refugees in the residences of the embassies of Italy and Mexico; three are outside the country, including Blanco; and eight others remain hidden. Of this group, the last mentioned is the parliamentarian Rafael Guzmán. However, this figure could increase to 17, according to complaints from Guaidó and from the Parliament itself that the Supreme Court of Justice of the country could be adding to the accusations the congressmen Tomas Guanipa and José Guerra. The procedure has not been formalized yet. Attorney General Tarek William Saab that the Public Ministry opened investigations to 34 people for the uprising and 17 arrests were made.