Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado arrested and released amid tense protest crackdown
MIAMI - Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was briefly detained Thursday after security forces intercepted her convoy as it departed an anti-government rally in Caracas.
According to her team, the motorcycle she was riding was forced off the road amidst gunfire and Machado was forcibly taken away.
During her detention, she was compelled to record several videos before being released.
President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia repudiated the kidnapping on X, saying, "Very serious! "That María Corina is free does not minimize the fact of what took place, she was kidnapped under violent conditions,"
Earlier in the day, Machado had emerged from months in hiding to lead protests against Nicolás Maduro's government.
Addressing a crowd of protesters shortly before her arrest, she declared, "They wanted us to fight each other, but Venezuela is united, we are not afraid."
Her dramatic detention has sparked outrage across Latin America, with calls for accountability.
Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe questioned whether the United Nations would act to protect Machado. Meanwhile, Maduro's government has yet to comment on the incident.
The worldwide protests come on the eve of Maduro's swearing-in for a contested third term.
Machado and opposition groups have rejected the election results, presenting evidence that their candidate, Edmundo González, won by a landslide.
On Thursday evening, Machado released the following statement through social media, "Today, the Brave People demonstrated how to OVERCOME fear! I have never felt so proud to be Venezuelan. Thank you, thank you, to all the citizens who took to the streets to claim our victory of July 28th and COLLECT IT!"
"My heart goes out to the Venezuelan who was shot when the repressive forces of the regime detained me. I am now in a safe place and with more determination than ever before to continue with you UNTIL THE END!"
