Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Detained and Released Amid Protests

On January 9, 2025, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was forcibly detained during an anti-government rally in Caracas. Her party alleged that she faced violent interception as regime troops targeted her motorbike, and while she was briefly held, she was made to record several videos before her release.

In a highly charged atmosphere leading to Nicolás Maduro's third presidential inauguration, Machado had come out of hiding after months of threats, rallying thousands who chanted for freedom amidst fears of government reprisals. According to her aide, at the rally, she was intercepted and removed with force, while armed security forces and colectivos were present. The event exemplified the unrest and discontent within the country, as well as the challenges facing the opposition amid accusations of election fraud and increasing political repression.

After her detention, Machado is expected to address the nation regarding her experience, alluding to an escalating confrontation with the Maduro administration. Meanwhile, officials from Maduro's government dismissed claims of her detention as fabrication, critiquing the opposition's narratives while the human rights situation in Venezuela continues to draw international scrutiny.