Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addressed a massive rally in Caracas, defying government orders for her arrest. Machado went into hiding earlier this week after accusing President Nicolás Maduro of fraudulently securing victory over opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in the recent presidential election.

President Maduro has vowed “maximum punishment” for anti-government demonstrators claiming his re-election was rigged. The electoral commission, controlled by Maduro’s allies, insists he won with 52% of the vote, but independent observers have criticized the process for lacking transparency. The commission has yet to publish a full breakdown of results, while the opposition claims their tally shows a decisive victory for Gonzalez. Pre-election polls also indicated a clear win for the challenger.

On Saturday, Machado addressed thousands of supporters in Caracas from a truck adorned with a banner reading “Venezuela has won.” She declared, “We have never been so strong as today,” and added, “the regime has never been weaker… It has lost all legitimacy.” Despite being blocked from running in the election and spending days in hiding, Machado received cheers of “freedom, freedom” from the crowd. She was joined by several opposition leaders, though Gonzalez was notably absent. In a video message, Gonzalez urged supporters to “respond to the regime’s attacks with hope, harmony, and peace.”

Venezuelan security forces have been struggling to control mass protests, which have resulted in at least 11 deaths in clashes with police. Speaking to his supporters, Maduro stated that around “2,000 prisoners” had been detained since the election, promising “maximum punishment” and asserting, “This time there will be no forgiveness.”

The international community is increasingly pressuring the Venezuelan government. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Friday that there was “overwhelming evidence” that Gonzalez had won the election. The presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have called on Venezuela to release detailed election results. Additional concerns have been raised by the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Panama, and Uruguay. Conversely, Maduro retains support from allies in Russia, China, and Cuba.

Maduro has requested Venezuela’s top court to audit the voting tallies to confirm the results granting him another six-year term. The opposition contends that the court, dominated by government loyalists, will delay the publication of the tallies. Gonzalez boycotted court proceedings on Friday.