Leopoldo López, Venezuela’s most
prominent political prisoner, was released from a military prison on Saturday
morning and transferred to house arrest in a surprise move that could
invigorate the protest movement against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Political
allies and one of Mr. López’s lawyers described the release as a sign that the
government was starting to buckle in the face of months of public
demonstrations and growing diplomatic isolation. “This is a step toward
freedom, not just Leopoldo’s, but also a step that brings all Venezuelans
closer to freedom,” a lawmaker, Freddy Guevara, told reporters outside Mr.
López’s home, where supporters chanted “Yes, we can!” Jared Genser, an American
human rights lawyer who has represented Mr. López, said his client’s release
was a unilateral concession by the government that took Mr. López’s relatives
and legal team by surprise. More…
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