ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday condemned the “unacceptable act of repression” in Venezuela, hours after the brief arrest of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
“The news coming out of Venezuela is another unacceptable act of repression by (President Nicolas) Maduro’s regime, whose proclaimed electoral victory we do not recognise,” Meloni said in a statement.
Venezuelan government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, denied any involvement in Machado’s arrest and said it was fabricated by the opposition in a bid to generate support for her movement.
Maduro was due to have his third inauguration on Friday, after claims of victory in July elections which have been contested by the opposition, with international backing.
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Giulia Segreti)
