Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado freed after being taken by force

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was released late Thursday after being briefly detained by security forces earlier in the day. The incident occurred as she left a protest in Caracas, where she had delivered a defiant speech against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Machado, 57, was reportedly intercepted and knocked off the motorcycle she was riding, her campaign team said in a statement. Shots were fired during the confrontation, and she was “taken away by force” by government agents. While in custody, Machado was allegedly forced to record several videos before being released.

The opposition figure’s team confirmed her release on X, formerly known as Twitter, and announced that she would address the nation regarding the ordeal.

Machado’s detention and subsequent release come amid heightened tensions in Venezuela, where President Maduro is set to begin a contested third term. Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in the capital Thursday, rallying behind Machado, who had emerged from months of hiding to lead the protest.

During her speech earlier in the day, Machado stood before a crowd of supporters chanting, “We are not afraid,” as she condemned Maduro’s rule and called for millions to mobilize against his government. Her disappearance following the rally caused widespread concern and condemnation among opposition supporters and international observers.

Exiled opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who the opposition claims won the disputed July election, called for Machado’s “immediate release” earlier in the day, warning security forces “not to play with fire.”