Venezuela: Sentence against opposition leader shows utter lack of judicial independence

Venezuela: Sentence against opposition leader shows utter lack of
judicial independence
10 September 2015, 22:54 UTC

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 López 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.

"The charges against Leopoldo López 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."
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 Martín and Ángel González, who were tried
alongside Leopoldo López, 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 López, 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
López'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.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/venezuela-sentence-against-opposition-leader-shows-utter-lack-of-judicial-independence/