MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

General who exposed Cuban influence in Venezuelan army faces trial

Retired General Antonio Rivero, a former ‘Chavista’, faces up to eight years in jail

A former Venezuelan army general accused of revealing military secrets after he criticized the “Cubanization” of Venezuela's armed forces was told by a judge Friday not to leave the country while the case is being investigated.

Speaking in front of television cameras outside a military base after the hearing, retired Gen. Antonio Rivero's attorney, Guillermo Heredia, said his client was also ordered not to publicly discuss the case and must check in with the military court every 15 days.

Gen. Rivero, who hasn't been officially charged, left the armed forces earlier this year to run for legislative office in next month's elections.

The former general was accused of wrongdoing after claiming in April there is widespread involvement by Cuban military officials in Venezuela's armed forces. Rivero also stated that President Hugo Chavez has been allowing Cuban troops to not only train Venezuelan soldiers, but to also take part in intelligence and communications operations.

The specific accusations against Gen. Rivero are that his statements about the Cubans “caused harm to the armed forces” and revealed “secret news.” He faces up to eight years in jail for the charge of causing harm, and up to 10 years for providing military secrets, his attorneys say, according to local reports.

“I'm innocent. I haven't committed any crime,” Gen. Rivero told reporters earlier Friday, prior to entering the base with his attorney.

Regarding Gen. Rivero's accusation that Cuban officials are heavily involved in Venezuela's military, Mr. Chavez acknowledged in May that “there is a mechanism of military cooperation” between the two countries.

But the president refused to provide details on exactly what Cuban officials do in the armed forces or how many are involved. He said instead that the most important cooperation with Cuba is the presence of some 30,000 Cuban medical professionals on the hospitals and clinics of Venezuela to tend the poor that don’t have access to medical services.