Ottawa Calls for Release of Venezuelan Protesters Amid Post-Election Crisis

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has denounced acts of violence in Venezuela and called for the release of protesters who were arrested following the disputed election results. “Canada condemns the human rights violations, as well as the acts of violence that are occurring following the presidential elections and calls for the immediate release of the arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned or detained individuals,” Joly said in an Aug. 4 statement. Throngs of protesters have taken to the streets to denounce the July 28 election results giving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a third term, and security forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets and made numerous arrests as they crack down on the demonstrations....