Opposition leader Leopoldo López was banned from making public statements as part of the house arrest granted by the Venezuelan justice system, said his wife Lilian Tintori onTuesday.
Leopoldo cannot issue any information to the media and cannot speak publicly,”
Tintori told a press conference on the limitations imposed by a Supreme Court ruling.
López was placed under house arrest on July 8th, after spending three years and five months in the military prison of Ramo Verde, on the outskirts of Caracas.
But on August 1st he was returned to the prison by order of the TSJ -who accused him of planning to escape – and went back to his house five days later with the ruling that restricts his interventions.
When they moved him from Ramo Verde to the house (the first time) he did not have those limitations. That is why Leopoldo communicated through videos, messages in social networks and the Popular Will party,”
said Tintori.
Prior to his return to the prison, López had appealed against the July 30th election of the Constituent Assembly promoted by Nicolás Maduro and which now governs Venezuela with absolute powers.
We know it is a risk that Leopoldo speaks, although we know his firm position against the regime and I will continue to transmit it,”
said Tintori, indicating that the defense will appeal the restrictions.
López is serving a sentence of nearly 14 years, accused of instigating violence in protests against Maduro that left 43 dead in 2014.