Lokman İlhan
03 April 2019•Update: 03 April 2019
CARACAS
Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly stripped opposition leader Juan Guaido of his parliamentary immunity Tuesday, paving the way for his prosecution and possible arrest.
The assembly convened to discuss a request by Maikel Moreno, president of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), to strip Guaido of his immunity from prosecution. It was unanimously approved by all lawmakers.
, the leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, was charged with violating a travel ban imposed on him for visiting Colombia.
He traveled there a day before an attempt was made to bring U.S.-provided “humanitarian aid” into Venezuela on Feb. 23.
He later visited Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina Ecuador before returning to Venezuela on March 4, having no difficulty in re-entering the country.
Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. when Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.
Tensions flared when Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 -- a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.
Turkey, Russia, China, Iran, Bolivia Mexico have thrown their weight behind Maduro.
*Writing by Sena Guler
