- Title: Venezuela's Leopoldo Lopez will respect house arrest terms, lawyer says
- Date: 10th July 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JULY 10, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LEOPOLDO LOPEZ'S LAWYER JUAN CARLOS GUTIERREZ BEFORE ADDRESSING MEDIA GUTIERREZ ADDRESSING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEOPOLDO LOPEZ'S LAWYER JUAN CARLOS GUTIERREZ, SAYING: "Until now, we don't know the content of the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court of Justice. In any case, we're going to respect them. The request by Leopoldo Lopez's defence to Mr. Lopez and his family is to maintain total and absolute caution with regards to words used by Mr. Lopez. As you know, Mr. Lopez has not given a statement to the media or sent a message via Twitter as a precautionary measure, according to the ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice. In any case, we'll analyse it, we'll review it and we'll respect what needs to be respected and what is not within this sentence, will be fulfilled, according to rights." GUTIERREZ BEING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LEOPOLDO LOPEZ'S LAWYER JUAN CARLOS GUTIERREZ, SAYING: "An electronic device was placed on Leopoldo Lopez's left ankle. That electronic device emits a signal to state security bodies in case he intends to leave the perimeter or area of its configuration. That is something Venezuela's legislation allows and it had not been applied in Venezuela." VARIOUS OF GUTIERREZ WRAPPING INTERVIEWS AND LEAVING
- Embargoed: 24th July 2017 17:33
- Keywords: Lopez opposition house arrest lawyer terms
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016P4YDDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuelan lawyer for hardline leader Leopoldo Lopez said on Monday (July 10) his client would respect the terms of his house arrest and return to his family after being released from jail at the weekend.
Forty-six-year-old Lopez, was sentenced to nearly 14 years in jail on charges of inciting violence during 2014 protests against President Nicolas Maduro that led to 43 deaths.
But he was surprisingly granted house arrest and sent home due to what the Supreme Court called "irregularities" in his case and for health reasons. Lopez looked robust, however, when he later appeared to supporters.
Lopez's lawyer Juan Gutierrez, said his defence team ignored "the content of the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court of Justice" but that he had advised his client to abide by them. Gutierrez added an electronic tracking device had been placed on Lopez's left ankle.
The government seems to be calculating Lopez's return home may ease domestic protests and international censure, but opposition leaders are viewing it as vindication of their strategy and have vowed to step up their street tactics. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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