Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist. He founded the Venezuelan opposition party, Voluntad Popular, and served as mayor of the Chacao municipality in Caracas. In 2014, he was arrested on trumped-up charges for leading peaceful, nationwide protests denouncing Nicolás Maduro’s regime and sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison. He spent the first three years in prison and was subsequently transferred to house arrest. López escaped house arrest and sought asylum at the Spanish embassy in Caracas. He is one of the leaders and founding members of the World Liberty Congress.