Popular Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was briefly detained by enemies during anti-government protests in Caracas on Thursday, according to a statement from a political aide to X. However, she was soon released.
Ms. Machado was “violently blocked as she left the meeting,” her group told X. “The regime forces opened fire on the motorcycle transporting her.”
The country’s dictator, Nicolás Maduro, is scheduled to be sworn in as president for a third time on Friday.
Mr. Machado has been in hiding in Venezuela amid threats of arrest by government officials, but this was his first public appearance since August. She called rallies in cities across the country and around the world to protest President Maduro’s inauguration.
Thousands gathered in support of Mr. Machado at an event in Caracas on Thursday, all risking government detention. There, the opposition leader stood on top of a truck while his supporters chanted “Freedom!” freedom! freedom!”
Magalli Meda, a political aide at X, said Mr. Machado fell off his motorcycle as he was leaving the meeting.
“Firearms went off at the event,” Meda said. “They took her by force.”
She added that during her brief detention, “she was forced to record several videos and was later released.” “In the next few hours, she herself will be the one to address the nation to explain what happened.”
A spokeswoman for Ms. Machado declined to say who detained her. The event was packed with government security forces, often backed by armed gangs known as collectivos.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said in a television interview that the capture was a “lie” and that the opposition had made it up to attract attention.
The opposition party, the United States, and other countries are claiming that President Maduro stole the recent election and that the actual winner was former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, who is supported by President Machado.
Mr. Gonzalez has been living in exile since September.
Before being detained, Mr. Machado told his followers: “This strength that we have built and is growing every day has prepared us for this final step.”
She said of Maduro’s inauguration: “No matter what they do tomorrow, they’re just buried!”
Since the July 28 election, about 2,000 people have been detained in Venezuela, including most recently Mr González’s son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, and Carlos Correa, director of the prominent non-profit Espacio Público. .
