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| Venezuela opposition denounces 'anti-democratic regime' after leader's prison sentence | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The sentencing of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López to nearly 14 years in prison has angered many but shocked few in the deeply polarized country after what critics called a sham trial aimed at punishing dissent. | The sentencing of Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López to nearly 14 years in prison has angered many but shocked few in the deeply polarized country after what critics called a sham trial aimed at punishing dissent. |
| Convicted of inciting violence in his role as the leader of a 2014 street protest movement, López was reported to be calm as, late on Thursday night, judge Susana Barreiros read the sentence of 13 years, nine months and seven days in prison. | Convicted of inciting violence in his role as the leader of a 2014 street protest movement, López was reported to be calm as, late on Thursday night, judge Susana Barreiros read the sentence of 13 years, nine months and seven days in prison. |
| In a closed-door trial human rights advocates decried as politically motivated and deeply flawed, the judge allowed only one of the 60 defence witnesses proposed by his lawyers, and rejected 30 proposed exhibits, according to his lawyers, who say the judge was acting on orders from beleaguered president Nicolás Maduro. They plan to appeal the decision. | |
| Related: Venezuela opposition leader Leopoldo López jailed for nearly 14 years | Related: Venezuela opposition leader Leopoldo López jailed for nearly 14 years |
| “Today it is reaffirmed once again that we live under a repressive, anti-democratic regime,” said Lilian Tintori, a former champion kite-surfer who has two children with Lopez. | “Today it is reaffirmed once again that we live under a repressive, anti-democratic regime,” said Lilian Tintori, a former champion kite-surfer who has two children with Lopez. |
| Amnesty International said the verdict showed an “utter lack of judicial independence” in Venezuela. “His only ‘crime’ was being leader of an opposition party in Venezuela,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, the organization’s Americas Director. | |
| Three students, Christian Holdack, Demian Martín and Ángel González, who were tried together with López, were also convicted but will serve out their sentences outside of prison. | Three students, Christian Holdack, Demian Martín and Ángel González, who were tried together with López, were also convicted but will serve out their sentences outside of prison. |
| López, a 44-year-old US-educated economist who hails from a wealthy family, is the leader of the more radical wing of the Venezuelan opposition, and has advocated for the removal of the leftist government led by President Nicolás Maduro. His radicalism has won him a loyal following among many who seek regime change in Venezuela but has alienated more moderate sectors of the opposition. | López, a 44-year-old US-educated economist who hails from a wealthy family, is the leader of the more radical wing of the Venezuelan opposition, and has advocated for the removal of the leftist government led by President Nicolás Maduro. His radicalism has won him a loyal following among many who seek regime change in Venezuela but has alienated more moderate sectors of the opposition. |
| Government supporters call him a coup-monger for his role in a 2002 putsch that briefly ousted then-president Hugo Chávez, who set the oil-rich nation on a socialist path. He died of cancer in 2013 and his hand-picked successor, Maduro, was elected the same year. | Government supporters call him a coup-monger for his role in a 2002 putsch that briefly ousted then-president Hugo Chávez, who set the oil-rich nation on a socialist path. He died of cancer in 2013 and his hand-picked successor, Maduro, was elected the same year. |
| Before the verdict was handed down, a defiant López told the judge in a three-hour address to the court: “If the sentence is a conviction, I know that you will be more afraid pronouncing it than I will be hearing it because you know I am innocent.” | Before the verdict was handed down, a defiant López told the judge in a three-hour address to the court: “If the sentence is a conviction, I know that you will be more afraid pronouncing it than I will be hearing it because you know I am innocent.” |
| López repeatedly denied calling for the street barricades and destruction of government property that marked mass protests last year throughout the country, which resulted in the deaths of 43 people over the period of several months, including civilians, police and protesters. | López repeatedly denied calling for the street barricades and destruction of government property that marked mass protests last year throughout the country, which resulted in the deaths of 43 people over the period of several months, including civilians, police and protesters. |
| López’s conviction could sour attempts at repairing frayed relations with the US, which applied targeted sanctions to several top security and military officials accused of human rights abuses during last year’s protests. Venezuela responded by blacklisting current and former US officials and by requiring visas for Americans wanting to travel to Venezuela. | López’s conviction could sour attempts at repairing frayed relations with the US, which applied targeted sanctions to several top security and military officials accused of human rights abuses during last year’s protests. Venezuela responded by blacklisting current and former US officials and by requiring visas for Americans wanting to travel to Venezuela. |
| Roberta Jacobson, the United States’ assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, said on her Twitter feed she was “deeply troubled by the conviction of Leopoldo Lopez” and called on the Venezuelan government to protect democracy and human rights. | Roberta Jacobson, the United States’ assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, said on her Twitter feed she was “deeply troubled by the conviction of Leopoldo Lopez” and called on the Venezuelan government to protect democracy and human rights. |
| Deeply troubled by the conviction of @LeopoldoLopez. Call on government to protect #democracy and #humanrights in #Venezuela | Deeply troubled by the conviction of @LeopoldoLopez. Call on government to protect #democracy and #humanrights in #Venezuela |
| US diplomat Thomas Shannon has met several times with Maduro and other Venezuelan officials in recent months to try to engage the Venezuelan government and to express concern over López’s trial. | US diplomat Thomas Shannon has met several times with Maduro and other Venezuelan officials in recent months to try to engage the Venezuelan government and to express concern over López’s trial. |
| As the hearing got under way on Thursday morning, members of Lopez’s Voluntad Popular party clashed with government supporters. Demonstrators wearing the signature red T-shirts of government loyalists gathered in front of the court building chanting that López was a murderer and terrorist. | As the hearing got under way on Thursday morning, members of Lopez’s Voluntad Popular party clashed with government supporters. Demonstrators wearing the signature red T-shirts of government loyalists gathered in front of the court building chanting that López was a murderer and terrorist. |
| At least two women were injured in the clash and a 66-year-old man, identified as Horacio Blanco, died shortly after, of an apparent heart attack brought on by the fight. | At least two women were injured in the clash and a 66-year-old man, identified as Horacio Blanco, died shortly after, of an apparent heart attack brought on by the fight. |
| The sentence came as Venezuela prepares to go to the polls in December to choose new lawmakers amid a crippling economic crisis – partially due to plunging oil prices – continued shortages of basic goods and spiralling crime rates. With popular discontent on the rise, Maduro’s ruling Socialist party faces a strong possibility of defeat in many districts and could lose control of the National Assembly altogether, according to opinion polls. | The sentence came as Venezuela prepares to go to the polls in December to choose new lawmakers amid a crippling economic crisis – partially due to plunging oil prices – continued shortages of basic goods and spiralling crime rates. With popular discontent on the rise, Maduro’s ruling Socialist party faces a strong possibility of defeat in many districts and could lose control of the National Assembly altogether, according to opinion polls. |
| Related: Supporter of jailed Venezuelan leader dies after clashes as verdict draws close | Related: Supporter of jailed Venezuelan leader dies after clashes as verdict draws close |
| López has been held, mostly in solitary confinement, in the Ramo Verde military prison since February 2014 after he was accused of instigating violence and damage to government buildings in a protest in Caracas on 12 February. | López has been held, mostly in solitary confinement, in the Ramo Verde military prison since February 2014 after he was accused of instigating violence and damage to government buildings in a protest in Caracas on 12 February. |
| In May, López staged a month-long hunger strike to pressure authorities to set a date for legislative elections and ended it when the vote was set for 6 December. | In May, López staged a month-long hunger strike to pressure authorities to set a date for legislative elections and ended it when the vote was set for 6 December. |
| Nine opposition politicians, including López, have been barred by the national comptroller from holding office, eliminating them as candidates in the parliamentary elections. Others include Maria Corina Machado, another outspoken opposition politician and former member of the National Assembly who lost her seat in 2014. She was disqualified from running for failing to declare food vouchers in her asset statement. | Nine opposition politicians, including López, have been barred by the national comptroller from holding office, eliminating them as candidates in the parliamentary elections. Others include Maria Corina Machado, another outspoken opposition politician and former member of the National Assembly who lost her seat in 2014. She was disqualified from running for failing to declare food vouchers in her asset statement. |
| Daniel Ceballos and Vicencio Scarano, opposition mayors, were jailed not controlling anti-government protests in 2014 and were barred from seeking public office or failing to submit administrative paperwork for their towns while they were behind bars. | Daniel Ceballos and Vicencio Scarano, opposition mayors, were jailed not controlling anti-government protests in 2014 and were barred from seeking public office or failing to submit administrative paperwork for their towns while they were behind bars. |