Mikel Zabraise Gogoan has denounced the promotion of the civil guard Arturo Espejo and accused the Spanish State of rewarding the torture at a press conference held on Thursday in Orbaizeta. Earlier this month, Naiz announced Arturo Espejo, one of the civilian guards involved in the cases of torture and murder of Mikel Zabraise in 1985, who is at the top of the military organization.

The family recalls that two years ago the Parliament of Navarre called for a thorough investigation of the Zabraise affair, after filtering the audio that showed that Zabraise was tortured. Shortly thereafter, in February 2022, the Basque Government recognised the Orbaizetarra as a victim of state violence. "All these statements require the reactivation of all avenues for the full clarification of the facts and, where appropriate, the assumption of responsibility by the Spanish State". He adds that there seemed to be consensus in the search for "truth, justice and reparation", but that the appointment of Arturo Espejo as Civil Guard Lieutenant General demonstrates that "we are in the same place where we were 37 years ago".

The family denounces that the Government of Spain has preferred to give advice, confidence, prizes and power to people who have to do with the "darkest events of the state" against the United Nations principles on victims. He points out that torturers have "absolute impunity" and that this does not favor coexistence. They stress that it is time to move from words to deeds and call for the declassification of secret documents that can help to resolve the case.

The Network of Torturados in Navarra states that it is not "ethical" to recognize pain while climbing and decorating torturers. He adds that in order for coexistence in Navarre to be possible, it is necessary to recognize the political violence that has existed so far, and calls on political and institutional leaders to respond to the situation.

Assassination of Zabraise

On 26 November 1985, the Civil Guard detained in Altza the Orbaizetarra Mikel Zabenhancement. He was taken to Intxaurrondo and tortured to death, according to some evidence. Then Arturo Espejo was Intxaurrondo lieutenant.