Venezuela's opposition figure flees to Spain, vows to 'continue the fight'

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia—who insists he, not strongman Nicolas Maduro, is Venezuela's legitimate president-elect—fled to Spain on Sunday, vowing to "continue the fight" for freedom and democracy.

Gonzalez Urrutia arrived in Madrid after spending weeks in hiding in crisis-torn Venezuela. The opposition claims it can prove he won the July 28 elections, which Maduro claimed as a victory—a result that has been widely disputed.

Shortly after arriving on a military plane, the 75-year-old's press team released an audio message in which he expressed confidence that "soon we will continue the fight to achieve freedom and the recovery of democracy in Venezuela."

According to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the decision for Gonzalez Urrutia to leave was due to concerns for his safety, citing a "brutal wave of repression" following the election.

Gonzalez Urrutia replaced Machado on the ballot at the last minute after she was barred from running by institutions loyal to Maduro, who has been accused by observers of human rights violations.

Venezuela's regime-loyal electoral authority, CNE, declared Maduro the election winner, but the opposition contested this outcome. Much of the international community has refused to accept the result without a detailed vote breakdown, which has not been provided.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez Urrutia, whom Maduro said should be jailed along with Machado. She remains in hiding, aside from leading a handful of anti-Maduro protests since the disputed vote.

Gonzalez Urrutia left Venezuela on Sunday after ignoring three subpoenas to appear before prosecutors, arguing that appearing would endanger his freedom.

Machado said on X that "the increasing threats,...