Posted on Friday 6 February 2015
Venezuela is seeking an explanation from Britain about a diplomat's role in an attempt to film the trial of an opposition protest leader using "spy glasses".
The incident occurred during the trial of Leopoldo Lopez, who has been in jail for a year since leading protests against President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government.
Violence during the demonstrations left 43 people dead, including demonstrators, Maduro backers and security officials.
Lopez's father reportedly sneaked the recording glasses into a Caracas courtroom but was caught when they fell out onto the floor.
"They're $20 glasses from Amazon made in China, not a NASA instrument!" said the father. "They don't allow recording by phone, but there's no rule against glasses.
"But I was caught, and when one of the sheriffs pulled me out, I let the glasses drop and they fell on this British fellow who had nothing to do with it," he said.
However, Venezuela's attorney general, Luisa Ortega, suspected deliberate conspiracy, demanding answers from Britain in what she described as an "irregular" incident with signs of international interference.
"Episodes like this show there is a permanent effort to study ways of penetrating the Venezuelan state, destabilising and creating chaos and conflict," she said.
The British embassy said the diplomat was not involved in the incident. [Well, they would.]
"We strongly reject any suggestions of wrongdoing by the officer concerned," ambassador John Saville said.
EU-NATO IMPERIALISM ❌ 