The fate of Venezuelan opposition leader's arrest is uncertain amid ongoing protests against Maduro's inauguration.

Official denials followed the detention of Maria Corina Machado, aides to the Venezuela opposition leader, in a confusing episode that ended a day of protests against President Nicolás Maduro's efforts to maintain power.

After saying goodbye to hundreds of supporters, Machado rode on a motorcycle with her security convoy through the deserted streets of eastern Caracas to an unknown destination.

At 3:21 p.m. local time, Machado's press team announced on social media that security forces had "violently intercepted" her convoy. Her aides later confirmed to The Associated Press that the opposition hardliner had been detained, and international condemnation immediately poured from leaders in Latin America and beyond, demanding her release.

A 20-second video of Machado was posted online by a Maduro supporter an hour later, showing the opposition leader saying she was followed after leaving the rally and had dropped her purse. "I'm good, I'm safe," Machado said in a raspy voice, adding "Venezuela will be free."

Her aides later claimed on social media that the proof-of-life video message was forced, and that she was released after recording it. They stated that she would disclose details of her "kidnapping" at a later time.

The Communications Minister, Freddy Nanez, stated that nobody should be surprised by the detention of Maduro supporters, as it is coming from the "fascists" who created the "dirty trick."

On Thursday, hundreds of supporters gathered in response to Machado's call to protest the upcoming swearing-in of Maduro, who is expected to be elected for a third six-year term despite evidence suggesting he lost the presidential election.

"We were told to fight against each other, but Venezuela is united, we are not afraid," Machado shouted from a truck in the capital just before she was arrested.

Despite many of her allies in the opposition leadership fleeing, Machado, 57, remained a hardliner former lawmaker and stayed to fight against Maduro.

Last year, the loyalists who controlled the country's judiciary prevented her from running against Maduro. In a strategic move, she supported an unrecognized outsider, retired diplomat Edmundo González, who won the election with a more than two-to-one margin, as confirmed by voting machine records collected by the opposition and validated by international observers.

As the newly-elected president of the United States, González was among those who called for Machado's immediate release following her alleged arrest.

In a social media post from the Dominican Republic, he cautioned the security forces: "Do not play with fire." He made this statement after meeting with President Luis Abinader and a group of former presidents from across Latin America.

Despite the deployment of riot police in force, there was a low turnout for Thursday's protests among Venezuelans who have seen Maduro's security forces round up opponents and bystanders since the July election.

"Of course, there are fewer people," said empanada vendor Miguel Contrera as National Guard soldiers carrying riot shields buzzed by on motorcycles. "There's fear."

In one opposition stronghold, a group of demonstrators blocked a main avenue. The protesters were mostly senior citizens and wore red, yellow, and blue, in support of Machado's call to wear the colors of the Venezuelan flag. They all rejected Maduro and pledged to recognize González as Venezuela's legitimate president.

Javier Corrales, a Latin America expert at Amherst College, stated that Maduro's deployment of security forces and pro-government armed groups known as "colectivos" to intimidate opponents reveals his deep insecurity.

Over 2,000 individuals, including 10 Americans and other foreigners, have been arrested by the government since the elections, with this week alone seeing the arrest of a former presidential candidate, a prominent free speech activist, and González's son-in-law as he was taking his young children to school.

Corrales, who co-authored an article in the Journal of Democracy this month titled "How Maduro Stole Venezuela's Vote," stated that while the show of force is impressive, it also reveals a sign of weakness.

"Corrales stated that Maduro is secure in his position, but he and his supporters acknowledge that they are proceeding with a false narrative and have no other way to justify their actions except by utilizing the military."

The National Electoral Council in Venezuela, which is dominated by government loyalists, declared Maduro as the winner of the election. However, unlike previous elections, authorities did not provide any access to voting records or precinct-level results.

The opposition published tally sheets from 85% of electronic voting machines, showing that its candidate, González, had defeated Maduro by a more than two-to-one margin. Experts from the United Nations and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, both invited by Maduro's government to observe the election, have confirmed the legitimacy of the tally sheets published by the opposition.

Even some of Maduro's former leftist allies in Latin America plan to skip Friday's swearing-in ceremony, while the U.S. and other governments have recognized González as Venezuela's president-elect.

This week, at the White House, President Joe Biden commended the previously unrecognized retired diplomat, González, for having "inspired millions."

Following the meeting, Biden stated that the true winner of Venezuela's presidential election deserves a peaceful transfer of power to the people of Venezuela.