Edmundo González’s full English statement:

Below you’ll find Edmundo González’s full statement on the document that the government apparently made him sign before allowing him safe-passage to Spain—the document is supposed to be a commitment by González Urrutia saying that while he didn’t agree with the Supreme Tribunal’s decision (certifying Maduro’s win) he would abide by the ruling. Here’s the statement:

“I am writing to you to inform you of the whole truth about what happened with my departure from Venezuela.

The regime wants all Venezuelans to lose hope. The whole world knows that they always resort to foul play, blackmail and manipulation.

While at the residence of the Ambassador of Spain, the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez and the vice president of the Republic Delcy Rodríguez presented themselves with a document that I would have to countersign to allow my departure from the country. In other words, I either signed or faced the consequences.

There were very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure. In those moments I considered that I could be more useful, free than locked up and unable to fulfill the tasks entrusted to me by the sovereign.

A document produced under coercion is absolutely null and void, due to a serious defect in consent.

As President-Elect of millions and millions of Venezuelans who voted for change, democracy and peace, they are not going to silence me.

I will never betray them. This is known to each and every one of the people I have spoken to to date.

The International Community continues to increase its support for the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people.

What they should be disclosing are the scrutiny records. The truth is what it is and it is in the minutes that you try to hide.

They are not going to silence a country that has already spoken. Millions of Venezuelans have the will for change and I am going to fulfill that mandate.”