Leopoldo López, general coordinator and founder of the opposition political party Voluntad Popular, is a Prisoner of Conscience. Amnesty International has determined the sentence against him is clearly politically motivated, so he must be released immediately and unconditionally.

On 12 February 2014, an arrest warrant was issued against López after being indicted by senior government representatives for the violence unleashed during the protests that day.

On 18 February, López surrendered to the National Guard during a demonstration called by his political party in a square located in eastern Caracas. He was detained in the National Center for Military Processed Individuals "CENAPROMIL" (acronym in Spanish), also known as Ramo Verde, a military prison placed in Los Teques, on the outskirts of the capital.

On 4 July, the judge decided there was enough evidence to start the trial against Lopez for the crimes of fire and damages, in nature of determination, instigation to commit crimes and association to commit crimes. He was denied bail.

On 26 August 2014, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Lopez's detention had been arbitrary and the High Commissioner for Human Rights asked the authorities to release him immediately.

On 10 September 2015, López was sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison and on 13 August 2016, the appeals court upheld the sentence.

During his detention, López was subjected to acts of intimidation and his family members reported being victims of harassment. He was also subjected to isolation regimes. For example, he was illegally isolated and confined without being able to receive visits from his lawyers and family members for 35 days from 8 April to 7 May 2017.

On 8 July, López was transferred from the military prison Ramo Verde to his home. In this regard, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Director for the Americas, stated:

"Seeing Leopoldo López out of prison is good news, but exchanging a prison for another is not enough. Being subjected to house arrest means that Leopoldo continues to be deprived of his freedom."

However, Lopez was taken out without justification by intelligence officers during the early hours of 1 August. Four days later, he was transferred back to his residence, where he will continue to serve the sentence imposed on him.

A prosecutor involved in the trial, the judge who signed the arrest warrant and even Venezuela’s Attorney General have declared from the exile they were pressured by high authorities to condemn Lopez.

Leopoldo López continues to be a Prisoner of Conscience and he must be released immediately and unconditionally.