Fugitive Caracas mayor flees house arrest for Spain, Venezuela’s Maduro says ‘they can keep him’
Antonio Ledezma had already crossed into neighbouring Colombia where he boarded a plane for Madrid late on Friday
Ousted Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma arrived in Madrid a day after he escaped from house arrest in Venezuela and slipped past security forces into Colombia.
Ledezma’s flight from Bogota landed early on Saturday morning at Barajas airport in the Spanish capital. With a Venezuelan flag draped over his shoulder, he hugged his wife and two daughters.
“I am going to travel the world. To spread the hope of all Venezuelans to escape this regime, this dictatorship,” he said.
Ledezma was removed as mayor of Caracas and detained in 2015 on charges of plotting to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He said on Friday his decision to flee was driven by threats intended to force the opposition to resume negotiations with Maduro’s government.
“My voice is joining a chorus of Venezuelans who have asked for help from Colombia,” Ledezma earlier told reporters in the Colombian border town of Cucuta.
