VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FILE Venezuela opposition leader Lopez jailed for 13 years
Record ID:
140017
VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FILE Venezuela opposition leader Lopez jailed for 13 years
- Title: VENEZUELA-OPPOSITION/LOPEZ-FILE Venezuela opposition leader Lopez jailed for 13 years
- Date: 11th September 2015
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE- FEBRUARY 18, 2014) (REUTERS) GROUP GATHERED IN SUPPORT OF VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER, LEOPOLDO LOPEZ LOPEZ ON STATUE OF CUBAN INDEPENDENCE HERO, JOSE MARTI, WITH HIS WIFE LILIAN TINTORI ON TOP OF STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER, LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, SAYING: "I swear to you we will overcome and very soon we will have a free and democratic Venezuela." VARIOUS OF LOPEZ COMING DOWN FROM THE STATUE LOPEZ TAKEN AWAY BY NATIONAL GUARD POLICE OFFICERS TRYING TO DETAIN PEOPLE IN CROWD LOPEZ IS DETAINED WHILE HOLDING A VENEZUELAN FLAG PEOPLE SHOUTING IN SUPPORT OF LOPEZ LOPEZ TAKEN AWAY BY THE NATIONAL GUARD LOPEZ GETTING INTO AN ARMOURED VEHICLE AND WAVING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOUTING AROUND THE ARMOURED VEHICLE VARIOUS OF POLICE CLEARING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE VEHICLE CARRYING LOPEZ POLICE AND LOPEZ SUPPORTERS SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE
- Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAB0EJ7B2EBH6PJ5SLYHZIIQM31
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Venezuela's best-known jailed opposition figure, Leopoldo Lopez, was jailed for 13 years on Thursday (September 10) on charges of inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiralled into violence killing more than 40 people.
After a marathon session at the heavily guarded Palace of Justice, judge Susana Barreiros ruled Lopez, a U.S.-educated hardline opponent of socialist President Nicolas Maduro arrested in February last year, had masterminded the violence.
The 44-year-old was ordered to return to the Ramo Verde military jail to serve a sentence of 13 years and nine months, his lawyer and supporters said.
Lopez's case has become a cause celebre for opposition supporters over what they deem the Maduro government's trampling of human rights. The U.S. government, the United Nations and international rights groups had all called for Lopez's release.
For years, Lopez has been one of the most prominent hardline figures in Venezuela's opposition. He was a successful and popular mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas until 2008. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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