Vox filed a criminal complaint on 27 October 2026 with the Court of First Instance in Avilés criminal complaint against Adriana Lastra . The Socialist had served as the government’s delegate in Asturias until 20 October. Alongside Lastra, the complaint names her successor, Cecilia Pérez, as well as other officials who may be identified through the investigation. Vox cites the incidents at the appearance by Santiago Abascal on 21 October 2026 on Plaza de Camposagrado in Avilés as the reason for its complaint.
According to the party, the protection it had requested for the gathering was inadequate. As a result, attendees, stewards and the event itself were exposed to danger. The complaint is based on the allegation that the authorities responsible failed in their duties. The Government Delegation had stressed in recent days that most protests had been peaceful and that a few violent groups were responsible for the incidents. As of Tuesday, no usable public statements from Adriana Lastra or Cecilia Pérez were available in response to the allegations made against them by name.
Abascal’s appearance in Avilés was accompanied by protests. Clashes between counter-demonstrators and police also took place in A Coruña on the same day. The incidents sparked debate about operational planning, security perimeters and the responsibility of the government delegations. Vox attributes the disruption to political interference from Madrid and describes it as an organised strategy against its events. Police unions have voiced occasional criticism of the operational planning on the ground; no comprehensive assessment of the operations has yet been made.
By filing the complaint in Avilés, Vox aims to establish criminal liability for the protection of political events. The court must now consider whether there is sufficient initial evidence of a relevant failure to act and whether an investigation should be opened or expanded. It remains unclear whether the alleged failures by the security authorities meet the criteria for a criminal offence; this will depend on the findings of police and judicial inquiries.
The case is part of a series of political disputes over freedom of assembly and public safety. It directly concerns Avilés but has a wider regional dimension because of parallel events in other cities. Until the court has assessed the case, the motives and strategies attributed to those involved remain political interpretations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).