The arrest of lawyer Claudia González, a former official of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (Cicig), continues to generate reactions from the international sector who see incidents like this undermining the credibility of the Guatemalan justice system.

This Tuesday, August 29, the UK ordered the arrest of González, who is the defender of more than five former justice operators who were detained or exiled, such as former anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval.

González assured last Monday that his detention was political persecution carried out by the Ministry of Public Affairs (MP), whose leadership is approved by the US, which put him on the list of corrupt actors.

Therefore, the British refused to arrest González and said such actions eroded confidence in the judiciary, wrote James Dauris, the UK’s deputy director for the Americas, on his X account, formerly Twitter.

Dauris’ message added that “the UK shares international concern over the detention of lawyer and former prosecutor @Claudia_GonzaO in #Guatemala.”

He also said that “It is deeply concerning to see these and other actions further erode the public’s trust in the judiciary. and public services, and in the fight against impunity and corruption”.

Meanwhile, González said last Monday that “Since last year I have been prepared because there have been several cases against me.”

“They violated my constitutional rights,” González accused criminal judge Jimmi Brenner, who issued an arrest warrant against him on suspicion of “abuse of power” and who tried to send him to pretrial detention without holding a first hearing to notify him of the reasons for his arrest.

Judge Brenner handling the case was sanctioned this year by the US State Department for corruption. Besides, it’s the same people who linked journalist Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín to criminal proceedings.

Former president Cicig was sent to pretrial detention and The trial will resume on September 7.

Between 2019 and 2023, at least 50 Guatemalan justice operators, journalists, activists and lawyers have had to self-isolate due to criminal charges against them by the Ministry of Public Affairs, whose leadership, directed by Consuelo Porras, approved by the United States.