Court upholds Venezuela opposition leader's 14-year sentence

[Zorro]

A Venezuelan court upheld the 14-year sentence of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on Friday, in a move likely to increase tension in the crisis-hit South American country.

Lopez has repeatedly declared himself innocent of the charge of inciting violence at anti-government protests in 2014, calling himself a political prisoner.

"This is certainly a political trial. Unfortunately, the government's interest takes priority over the justice system," Lopez's lawyer Juan Carlos Gutierrez told AFP.

"They upheld his sentence under the same terms," Gutierrez said, referring to the 14-year sentence.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/court-upholds-venezuela-opposition-leaders-14-sentence-022343802.html

What a farce.

[scscholar]

1. Good. People trying to make things worse instead of better need to be punished. (ntxt)

[hack89]

2. Can't have anyone challenge Maduro

Both Maduro and Chavez learned that from Castro.

[hack89]

3. Only dictatorships criminalize political opposition.

This is not good. Fortunately after the revolution he will be freed.