The Venezuelan opposition coalition announced yesterday that four activists from two of its political parties have been detained in recent days amid rising tensions in on the eve of the presidential elections in July, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The four arrested - Gabriel Gonzalez, Javier Cisneros, Jeancarlos Rivas and Juan Iriarte from the "People's Will" parties. and "Vente Venezuela", were arrested from last Friday until yesterday by the security forces. They are accused of inciting hatred and conspiracy, an opposition spokesman announced.
Venezuela's attorney general's office has not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment.
The detentions of the four activists and journalist Luis Lopez come amid favorable poll results for Edmundo Gonzalez, elected as the opposition candidate, after Venezuela's highest court upheld a ban on the winner from holding public office in the primary election Maria Corina Machado.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is running for a third term, was favored by about 30% of voters in a recent poll, while Gonzalez was supported by 50% of voters.