Thousands marched across the country between April 30 and May 1 after the president of the National Assembly and self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaidó, backed by low ranking military officers, demanded Nicolás Maduro resign from office. More than 45 people lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown.

“Let’s all head to the streets, it’s time to end the usurpation of the Executive Branch,” said Guaidó while launching what he referred to as the final phase of “Operation Freedom,” his initiative to depose Maduro, form a transitional government and call new elections. Large masses of demonstrators duly converged on the Venezuelan capital and other parts of the country.

See FAQs: On what grounds can Juan Guaidó lay claim to the presidency?

Nicolás Maduro described Guaidó’s plan and the (limited) military uprising as a coup attempt. “We must remain calm in the face of the plotters,” he urged, while stating that prosecutors had been appointed to investigate and where appropriate charge those responsible. However, he was silent on the issue of the crackdown by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces which reports indicate claimed over 45 lives.