The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:43 PM
Weather Local Our View State National World Faith

WORLD: Venezuala Opposition Leaders Jailed, U.S. Levies Sanctions Against Current Government
Venezuelan opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma will be returning back to prison after they were taken from their homes in the middle of the night by state security agents on Tuesday.

The country’s Supreme Court claimed in a statement that the two men violated the terms of their house arrest by criticizing the government in messages released on social media in recent days. It’s the first move against prominent enemies of President Nicolas Maduro’s government since a widely denounced vote granting the ruling party nearly unlimited powers.

The court, which is controlled by Maduro allies, said it had received “reports from official intelligence sources” that Lopez and Ledezma were planning to flee.

Lopez’s attorney, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, denied the claims, saying the government’s decision to return his client to prison was “completely arbitrary.” He said Lopez had obeyed the conditions imposed on his house arrested.

Relatives and allies of Lopez and former Caracas Mayor Ledezma took to social media early Tuesday night to report both men had been detained at their home. Lopez’s wife posted what appeared to be a video of him being taken from their home.