Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was violently detained by Dictator Nicolas Maduro’s security forces, as reported by local media.
Machado was leading global rallies to dispute Dictator Maduro’s planned January 10th inauguration when she was abruptly sequestered.
According to Democratic opposition forces, Machado was released after being forced to film a series of videos, the content of which is currently unknown.
Machado’s detainment is the latest episode in a chain of violent instances of repression that Maduro has executed since Venezuela’s presidential elections last July.
Venezuela’s elections follow failed negotiations between Venezuela’s government and President Biden’s administration over electoral assurances in exchange for sanctions relief.
Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred Machado from participating in the same.
Machado then invested her political capital into Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.
Despite Gonzalez’s victory, Maduro’s electoral commission declared Maduro as the winner without showing proof of the votes he received while subsequently coercing Gonzalez into departing Venezuela.
Gonzalez condemned Machado’s arbitrary detention via X.
“Very serious! The fact that Maria Corina is free does not minimize the fact of what happened, she was kidnapped in conditions of violence,” said Gonzalez.
Machado’s arrest antecedes Gonzalez’s expected Venezuela return to dethrone Maduro and be installed as the rightful president.
Meanwhile, Maduro’s regime has publicly warned they will arrest Gonzalez if he dares to return to Venezuela and have reportedly placed a $100,000 bounty for information leading to his arrest.
Machado’s arrest foreshadows Gonzalez’s potential destiny were he to return to Venezuela.
It remains unclear when or how Gonzalez will return, but he is expected to do so prior to Maduro’s inauguration ceremony on January 10th.