Following the controversial presidential election in Venezuela, violent protests have erupted across the country.
At least eleven people have died as a result.
Kurier reports that the opposition is accusing President Nicolas Maduro of rigging the election and has called for renewed demonstrations against his government.
Escalating Violence
The Attorney General has reported that 749 demonstrators have been arrested across the country.
The protests turned deadly as demonstrators clashed with police, attacking police stations, electoral offices, town halls, and hospitals. In response, the Venezuelan government has charged the detainees with terrorism, incitement to hatred, and blocking public roads.
The Venezuelan public prosecutor's office also reported that a member of the military was fatally shot during the unrest.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has refused to recognize the official election results, citing numerous irregularities and possible manipulation.
"Under the current circumstances, the result announced by the electoral office and the declaration of Nicolás Maduro as the winner cannot be recognized," the OAS report stated.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from running in the election, has called for renewed protests, urging Venezuelans to "demonstrate our determination to use every voice and defend the truth."
The opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, received 73 percent of the vote, despite the electoral commission declaring Maduro the winner with 51 percent.
In the capital of Caracas, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, where police have responded with tear gas and batons.
In several cities, demonstrators have resorted to cacerolazos, a form of protest involving banging pots and pans. Streets have been blocked, and in some areas, protesters have thrown incendiary devices at police officers.
In Coro, the capital of the state of Falcon, protesters tore down a statue of the late President Hugo Chávez, who was Maduro's mentor and the founding father of the socialist movement that has ruled Venezuela for years.
Maduro's Response
In a televised address, Maduro stated that the armed forces would maintain order, blaming the violence on the "extreme right."
Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, dismissed the opposition's concerns as an attempted coup.
The election result has sparked criticism internationally.
The United States and other Western countries, along with some South American nations, have called for a recount of the votes.
Russia and China, on the other hand, have supported Maduro, congratulating him on his victory. Independent polls conducted after the election indicated a landslide win for the opposition, but Maduro has rejected these claims.
Ongoing Crisis
Venezuela, despite being rich in oil reserves, has been in a deep economic and humanitarian crisis for years, plagued by mismanagement and corruption.
According to the UN, around eight million people have fled Venezuela in recent years due to poverty and violence.
The country has also endured years of hyperinflation, which has decimated savings and made basic supplies scarce. Although inflation has recently decreased, many workers struggle with wages that do not keep pace with the cost of living.
