I realize that my blog has been a bit sparse on the content lately, and that is mostly due to the urgent events happening with my client Eligio Cedeño, a Venezuelan political prisoner who was released a few weeks ago from his unlawful pre-trial detention, only to have the judge who made the order arrested and have his life threatened with a dead-or-alive capture order from President Hugo Chávez. Facing the onslaught of frightening personal attacks, slander, and lies from the president on daily television, Cedeño was forced to flee the country, arriving in the United States on Dec. 19.
I am happy to report that after several days of processing, the U.S. government completed the required paperwork concerning Eligio Cedeño's status as a politically persecuted individual. He has now been officially admitted to the United States, where he enjoys complete freedom and the protections of its laws, and will be able to establish residence. Eligio has already made his way to an undisclosed residence in South Florida, where he will be able to spend the first Christmas in nearly three years with his family.
This is a tremendously positive occasion, though we acknowledge that a mountain of legal challenges remain, dozens of political prisoners continue to suffer under Chávez, and numerous actions are still being prepared to defend their rights. But for now, I appreciate your patience for a while on my Russia postings -- we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming very soon.
Justice for a good man and his family
Siempre se cumple lo que es necesario que se cumpla...