Kevin Spacey on Venezuela: House of Cards actor writes #SOSVenezuela blog in support of ‘all who peacefully and non-violently claim their right to protest’

To highlight the issue, the House of Cards star has written a piece on his official blog, calling for his fans to pledge their support

Kevin Spacey at the Academy Awards in 2014

Kevin Spacey has expressed his support for the opposition protesters to Venezuelan president Maduro in a new blog post titled #SOSVenezuela (read it in full below).

Since 14 February, thousands have taken to the streets to protest about a range of issues facing the country, including food shortages, high inflation and media censorship.

But their protest has been met with a brutal response from the government, and more than 35 demonstrators have died in violent clashes with law enforcement. Hundreds more have been injured.

To highlight the issue, the House of Cards star has written a piece on his official blog, calling for his fans to pledge their support for “Venezuelans who peacefully and non-violently claim their right to self-determination and protest”.

It reads: "For many weeks now, tens of thousands of I support all of the Venezuelans who peacefully and non-violently claim their right to self-determination and protest have taken to the streets in protest.

"These students were standing for basic human freedoms and engaging in the right to protest, which is a sacred right whether in Boston, Belarus, or Venezuela. The government of Venezuela responded with heavy-handed repression. Within two weeks Leopoldo Lopez, the leader of the opposition party, Voluntad Popular, called for nationwide peaceful demonstrations to address the problems facing the country. These problems include chronic food shortages, the highest inflation in the world and ongoing censorship of the media. Even the Oscars were not allowed to be broadcast – for the first time in Venezuelan history.

"More than 1,400 students were arrested, there are more than 40 confirmed cases of torture and Leopoldo Lopez still sits in a Venezuelan military prison. He has urged the students to exercise their legal rights to peaceful protest and free speech and he repeatedly emphasized they must do so without violence. President Maduro has blamed Lopez for the violence that has beset the country and ordered his arrest on charges of murder, arson and terrorism. To date, the government has presented no evidence of the charges against him and their legal case is falling apart.

"Amnesty International said the charges against Lopez recall 'politically motivated attempts to silence dissent.' Human Rights Watch says 'the Venezuelan government has openly embraced the classic tactics of an authoritarian regime: jailing its opponents, muzzling the media and intimidating civil society.'

"I support all of the Venezuelans who peacefully and non-violently claim their right to self-determination and protest. I hope you will join me in asking them not to give up and to not become numb to the violations and abuses committed against them. We who are fortunate enough to live in freedom must stand up to oppression and injustice and remind the Venezuelan people that they are on the right side of history.

"Please show your support in whatever way you can: #SOSVenezuela"

His political message follows his rather strong words for Hollywood last week in reference to his achieving career success despite being viewed as an outsider by the industry.

"Unless it's Martin Scorsese, and it's a really significant role, f**k off," he told The Hollywood Reporter of his plans for the near future.

"I'm not playing someone's brother. I'm not playing the station manager. I'm not playing the FCC chairman.

"People thought I was crazy 11 years ago when I moved to London and started a theatre company," he continued. "'What is he doing? He's out of his mind'.

"People thought we were crazy when we made the Netflix deal for House of Cards. 'They're out of their minds, it'll never work'.

"I'm used to people thinking I'm nuts. And you know what? I kind of love it."