Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez has arrived in Venezuela to show support the defence team of two jailed opposition leaders.
Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma are accused of plotting to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.
Gonzalez’s presence in Venezuela has drawn criticism from the government.
International rights groups and human rights organisations have called on Maduro to free politicians jailed on charges of trying to destabilise the country. Maduro has responded that the country’s justice system is autonomous and that the people in question are criminals.