After being imprisoned for months, one of Venezuela's most prominent opposition leaders appeared in court. Leopoldo Lopez, the leader of the Popular Will Party has been accused of terrorism and other crimes by the Venezuelan government.

On Feb. 18, Lopez handed himself over to the police, following negotiations with the government over his alleged crimes, according to The Guardian. The Maduro administration had charged Lopez with terrorism and murder. During the turmoil that embroiled Venezuela for many months, 43 people died and hundreds have been wounded and arrested.

According to the Associated Press, Lopez appeared in court on Wednesday to face the charges brought against him. Lopez's attorney, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, defended his client's call for protests, saying Lopez testified "that his call to protest was framed in the constitution that guarantees peaceful and non-violent protest"

The case is being heard by Judge Susana Barreiros and the next session will be held on Aug. 6, the Associated Press reports.

The Telegraph reports that no reporters or onlookers were allowed inside the courtroom while police forces cordoned off sections of the street to prevent demonstrations near the Palace of Justice.

Following the hearing, reporters asked President Nicolas Maduro for a comment on the case.

"The leader of the ultra-right is responsible for crimes, violence, destruction, (loss of) human lives, " Venezuela's socialist president said. "He planned it. He's a pawn of the gringos (Americans), not just now, but from very young. He has a messianic vision, that he was born to be a leader, the president of Venezuela."

However, Lopez's wife, Lilian Tintori, continues to defend her husband's innocence and during a visit to the United States she called the Venezuelan judicial system a "complete joke," according to Reuters. 

"A strong and powerful government has nothing to fear from criticism, only a weak and insecure government locks up people who express their opinion," she said.