Opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro staged a demonstration in Caracas on Wednesday, seeking to reignite protests against him as he consolidates his control following a disputed election last month. The July 28 vote, which declared Maduro the winner despite allegations of electoral fraud, has sparked international condemnation for lacking transparency.
The opposition has been demanding the release of results from each polling station to expose alleged election tampering by Maduro. The latest protest, dubbed 'Voting records kill sentence,' aimed to highlight discrepancies between official results and opposition-collected tally sheets.
Although Wednesday's protest was smaller than previous demonstrations, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado made a public appearance, emphasizing the movement's strategic approach to future protests. Machado underscored the ongoing international pressure on Maduro, noting that no Western democracy has recognized his victory.
Maduro's supporters also organized rallies to defend his presidency, accusing the opposition of inciting unrest. The president recently appointed a hard-line ruling party figure as interior minister, raising concerns of a heightened crackdown on dissent.
The situation in Venezuela drew attention at a special meeting of the Organization of American States, where the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights condemned institutional violence during the electoral process. The commission called for an end to actions causing fear among Venezuelans and urged respect for democratic principles.
As the crisis deepens, the U.S. representative to the OAS emphasized the urgent need for collective action to address the escalating situation in Venezuela.
