Arrest of Venezuelan Opposition Leader; Trump: Freedom Fighters Must Not Be Harmed

Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, was released on Thursday after a brief detention. The 'Vento Venezuela' movement, which Machado leads, announced this. According to Reuters, Machado's release came shortly after her arrest while she was leaving a protest gathering in eastern Caracas following gunfire. Anti-Nicolas Maduro demonstrations were held across the country. These protests were organized in the final moments to pressure Maduro ahead of his inauguration ceremony for a third presidential term, which is set to take place on Friday. The Venezuelan opposition leader was arrested after her first public appearance in recent months, prompting Edmundo Gonzalez, a political ally and former presidential candidate, to call for her immediate release. Several governments also condemned Machado's arrest. The Vento Venezuela movement stated on social media that during her detention, Machado was forced to record several videos. The movement added that more details would be released in the coming hours. Meanwhile, Venezuelan government officials, including the Minister of Interior, described the arrest as a fabrication by the opposition, labeling it an attempt to garner support for Machado's movement. Machado's arrest comes amid heightened tensions between Maduro's government and the opposition. Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States who will take office on February 1, responded to Machado's arrest in a statement, emphasizing that 'freedom fighters' must not be harmed. He wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that 'Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado and President-elect Gonzalez are peacefully expressing the voices and demands of the Venezuelan people, along with hundreds of thousands protesting against the regime.' The President-elect added, 'These freedom fighters must not be harmed and must remain safe and alive.' Trump emphasized that the 'large community' of Venezuelan Americans in the United States 'widely supports a free Venezuela' and has 'strongly backed' him as well. The arrest of two American citizens in Venezuela on charges of attempting a coup was announced as part of U.S. strategies to counter illegal detentions. Venezuela reported the detention of 125 foreign citizens on suspicion of 'attempting a coup.' The exiled opposition leader's visit to the U.S. for talks with Joe Biden was also mentioned, as the Venezuelan opposition called for renewed protests.