The leader of the opposition in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado, has been released after being arrested

The leader of Venezuela’s popular opposition party, María Corina Machado, was briefly detained by enemies during an anti-government protest in Caracas on Thursday, according to a statement to X by a political aide. But he was soon released.

Mrs. Machado was “violently stopped when he was leaving the meeting,” his group told X. “State soldiers shot at the motorcycles that were transporting him.”

The head of state, Nicolás Maduro, is expected to be sworn in for a third term as president on Friday.

Ms Machado has been living in hiding in Venezuela due to threats of arrest by government officials, and this was her first public appearance since August. He called for gatherings across the country, and in cities around the world, to oppose the appointment of Mr. Maduro.

Thousands turned out to support Ms Machado at a rally in Caracas on Thursday, all risking arrest by the government. There, the leader of the opposition stood on top of a truck while supporters shouted, “Independence! Freedom! Freedom!”

In X, the political assistant, Magalli Meda, said that when Ms. Machado was leaving the meeting, she was hit by her motorcycle.

“Guns were fired at the event,” said Ms. Meda. “They took him by force.”

During his brief detention, he was “forced to record a few videos and was later released,” he added. “In the next few hours he will be the one to talk to the world and explain what happened.”

Ms. Machado’s representatives refused to reveal who arrested her. The event was crowded with government security forces, often supported by gang members known as colectivos.

Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, speaking in a televised interview, called the footage a “fake” and accused the opposition of creating it to attract attention.

The opposition groups in that country, America and other countries, said Mr. Maduro stole the recent elections and the real winner was Edmundo González, a former ambassador supported by Ms. Machado.

Mr. González has been living in exile since September.

Before she was arrested, Ms. Machado told her followers, “This strength that we have built and is growing every day has prepared us for this final stage.”

“Whatever they do tomorrow,” he said of Maduro’s inauguration, “they just buried themselves!”

About 2,000 people have been arrested in Venezuela since the July 28 election, including, in recent days, Mr González’s son-in-law, Rafael Tudares, and Carlos Correa, director of the high-profile non-profit, Espacio Público. .