Venezuela Opposition Leaders Face Criminal Probe After Asking Army to ‘Stand on the Side of the People’

The Venezuelan Public Ministry stated that the opposition leaders are being probed for inciting ‘police and military officials to disobey the laws.’

Opposition leader María Corina Machado and opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González greet supporters during a protest against the official result of the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, on July 30, 2024. Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images

The Venezuelan Public Ministry has opened a criminal probe into opposition leaders for their appeal to the army and police to “stand on the side of the people” amid protests over disputed election results.

The probe was initiated after an Aug. 5 letter by opposition candidate Edmundo González and leader María Corina Machado urged the armed forces to stop suppressing protesters and “respect the voice of the people.”