Gonzalez Urrutia had been in hiding for a month, ignoring three successive summons to appear before prosecutors, saying attending the hearing could have cost his freedom.

After taking refuge voluntarily at the Spanish embassy in Caracas a few days ago, Gonzalez Urrutia asked the Spanish government for political asylum, Venezuela’s vice president said on social media, adding that Caracas had agreed to his safe passage.

Madrid’s Foreign Minister Jose Albares said on X that Gonzalez Urrutia  at his request  had departed on a Spanish military plane, adding that Spain was committed to the political rights of all Venezuelans. 

Gonzalez Urrutia’s lawyer Jose Vicente Haro also confirmed to reporters that the opposition candidate had left for Spain, declining to comment further.

Venezuela has been in political crisis since authorities declared Maduro the victor of the July 28 election.

The opposition cried foul, claiming it had evidence Gonzalez Urrutia had won by a comfortable margin.