Venezuelan military high command throws support behind Maduro as loyalty of military brought into question

The leaders of the Venezuelan military reaffirmed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid a contested election that has split the country’s military.

The Venezuelan election results had Maduro winning, results Democratic Unitary Platform candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia denounced as fraudulent, claiming victory as well. Mass protests broke out in the aftermath, leading to violence. The clashes with police have brought into question the loyalties of the military, with some videos published on social media showing military units sympathizing with or even defecting to protesters.