lima , peru — a venezuelan opposition leader who saying he is a victim of governmental persecution by politician carlos chavez ' s government requested political freedom in peru on wednesday , one of his lawyers said . manuel rosales , a leading chavez opponent , has been suspected with crime in ecuador but says his testimony might not be fair . lawyer rafael valle - riestra suggested there is " convincing evidence " supporting his case for asylum and that chavez ' s foreign ministry should visit ruiz to explain his request when a thursday . peruvian foreign ambassador joseph antonio garcia belaunde announced earlier monday that rosales reached peru as a tourist on april 4 .
Rosales lost a presidential race to Chavez in 2006.