Latin America Divided Over Venezuela’s Judgment Against Imprisoned Opposition Leader Leopoldo López

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Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison on charges of inciting the 2014 anti-government protests that spiraled into violence and claimed the lives of more than 40 people.  Many observers characterized the proceedings as a classic show trial, and called López a “political prisoner” and a “prisoner of conscience.” The decision was widely condemned in the United States, the European Union, in several Latin American capitals, and by international human rights NGOs, though it was also defended by some of Venezuela’s allies, while other governments in the region remained silent.