Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was released after a brief detention, representatives of her "Vente Venezuela" movement said on social media, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Shortly before the news of her release was announced, Communications and Information Minister Freddy Nanes said reports of Machado's arrest were a "media distraction." "The tactic of media distraction is not new, so we should not be surprised. Moreover, it is being used by fascists - the architects of the deception," Nanes wrote on "Telegram". He added that the right wing had "sold" the information that Machado had been attacked and detained by "motorcyclists serving the regime".
Machado, who had been in hiding since late July and had not appeared in public for months, arrived today to protest against the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro, and was arrested after the demonstration.
Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, who was a presidential candidate in the July elections, demanded Machado be released immediately.