Two Venezuelan fireman who created a video depicting President Nicolas Maduro as a donkey are facing up to 20 years in prison.
Ricardo Prieto, 41, and Carlos Varon, 45, were jailed after they were arrested on Wednesday by military counterintelligence officers at the fire station where they work.
The men have insisted the viral video – widely shared after they posted it on social media – was merely a joke.
But on Sunday Judge Carlos Marquez ordered the pair should stand trial on charges of violating a new law against inciting hatred.
The hate crime incitement legislation was introduced last year.
Opponents of the left-wing leader Mr Maduro have mockingly referred to him as “Maburro” – a play on the Spanish word for donkey, “burro”.
In the video made by Mr Prieto and Mr Varon, a donkey is led through the fire station in Merida state. One man is seen talking to the animal as if the president is making an official visit.
“Good evening comrades, as you can see we are receiving the visit of President Maduro,” states the donkey’s guide, according to Reuters. “He is doing an inspection. He is checking whether the grass is in a good state or not.”
Ivan Toro, lawyer at the human rights observatory of the University of the Andes, said: “The firemen were indicted with an aggravated charge of inciting hate. That aggravated charge indicates... 20 years of jail time.”
Human rights group say Mr Maduro’s government has enforced a crackdown on political dissent. The Penal Forum has estimated there are now 234 political prisoners in Venezuela.
Opponents of the Mr Maduro blame his socialist government for the country’s ongoing economic crisis. Last month inflation in Venezuela was predicted to reach 1,000,000 per cent by the end of the year.
The president has claimed he is facing an armed insurrection designed to oust the socialists and install a US-friendly government.
Earlier this month Trump administration officials were reported to have met with Venezuelan officials seeking to overthrow Mr Maduro’s government.
The White House reportedly sent a diplomat to attend the meetings “purely on listening mode” without agreeing to provide any support.
Additional reporting by Reuters
