Strasbourg, 09/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a common resolution of the EPP, ALDE, ECR and EFD Groups, adopted in plenary at Strasbourg on Thursday 8 July, the European Parliament demands the release of Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, of Caracas, arrested without charge at court, and reproached for having placed Eligio Cedeño on conditional release last December. Cedeño has been held as a preventive measure since February 2007, although the duration of preventive detention is restricted to two years.
The Parliament states its concern about Afiuni's conditions of detention, which, MEPs say, could be a threat to her physical and psychological well-being. The Parliament also condemns the public statements made by Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, who denigrated and insulted the judge. Finally, with a view to the legislative elections in September this year, the Parliament calls on Caracas to guarantee the independence of the judiciary authority, the rules of democracy and the principles of freedom of expression, assembly, association and election. (E.H./transl.jl)