Venezuela pro-government assembly fires dissident prosecutor

Record ID: 905414

  • Title: Venezuela pro-government assembly fires dissident prosecutor
  • Date: 5th August 2017
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 5, 2017) (REUTERS) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR LUISA ORTEGA DIAZ OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC MINISTRY BUILDING THAT HOUSES HER OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUISA ORTEGA DIAZ, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "They don't allow the public prosecutor (speaking of herself) enter the main office. I denounce what is happening right now to the international and national community." NATIONAL GUARD PUSHING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUISA ORTEGA DIAZ, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, SAYING: "Fighting for the freedom and democracy in Venezuela. Keep fighting forward until we achieve human rights, rescue freedom because this country lost freedom." VARIOUS OF VENEZUELAN NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS WITH SHIELDS STANDING OUTSIDE PUBLIC MINISTRY THAT HOUSES ORTEGA'S OFFICE
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2017 17:50
  • Keywords: Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz relieved fired from office dissident constituent assembly Diosdado Cabello
  • Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026SVQGCN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Venezuela's new pro-government constituent assembly on Saturday (August 5) removed dissident state prosecutor Luisa Ortega from her job, in what critics called a blatant affront to democracy.
    Since the opposition started a round of protests in April, Ortega has become President Nicolas Maduro's main challenger from within the ruling socialist movement, accusing him of human rights abuses.
    The new constituent assembly, which Ortega said was fraudulently elected last weekend, unanimously decided to remove her in its first session on Saturday. Earlier in the day, security forces had taken up position in front of her office, blocking Ortega from entering the building. She left on a motor bike amid the chaos.
    Earlier in the day, Ortega was blocked by National Guard soldiers from entering her the public ministry that houses her office. She told media that the government is trying to hide evidence of human rights violations and impede the investigation of the Odebrecht scandal.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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