Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who's seen as a symbol of anti-government protests, has been released from prison and put under house arrest, the country’s Supreme Court confirmed Saturday.
López has been in jail since 2014 serving a 13-year sentence for his role in widespread protests that same year that claimed more than 40 lives. Human rights groups said the closed-door trial was a sham.
In a brief statement, Venezuela’s Supreme Court said it had decided to transfer López after detecting “irregularities” in his case and due to “information received about the health of the political leader.”
López's transfer was confirmed by Javier Cremadas, one of López’s lawyers, and several prominent opposition leaders including former National Assembly President Henry Ramos Allup.
“Leopoldo López is at home in Caracas with Lilian and his children,” Cremada wrote on Twitter. “He’s still not free, he’s under house arrest. They moved him this morning.”
Leopoldo López está en su casa de Caracas con Lilian y sus hijos. Aún no es libre, sigue bajo arresto domiciliario. Le sacaron de madrugada.
— Javier Cremades (@JavierCremades) July 8, 2017
López’s wife, Lilian Tintori didn't immediately acknowledge the news.
In previous weeks, López had said he would not accept house arrest until all the other political prisoners had been released.
Read more at our news partner, the Miami Herald.
