Photos: A year of anti-Maduro protests and economic unrest in Venezuela

Even by the volatile standards of recent times in Venezuela, 2017 was an exceptional year, a “perfect storm” of political and economic crisis amid rising inflation, anti-government marches and violent street protests by disgruntled citizens. ...read more

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A protestor holds a national flag facing a fire at the entrance of the Supreme Court, during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela on June 12, 2017. Going into a fourth year of crippling recession, Venezuela’s 30 million people found themselves skipping meals, suffering shortages of basic foods and medicines, unable to keep up with dizzying inflation, and emigrating in ever larger numbers. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Demonstrators march during the "mother of all marches" against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela on April 19, 2017. In unprecedented scenes for the once prosperous OPEC nation, some citizens survived only by scavenging through garbage. President Maduro’s ruling Socialists – the inheritors of Hugo Chavez’s “21st century revolution” -- lost popularity on the street, and the opposition coalition sensed a chance to unseat them. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Demonstrators use a giant slingshot against security forces during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela on May 20, 2017. The tipping point came in March when the pro-Maduro Supreme Court essentially took over functions of the opposition-led National Assembly. Though the ruling was later modified, it triggered hundreds of thousands on to the streets, decrying economic hardship, demanding a presidential election, urging foreign humanitarian aid, and seeking freedom for jailed activists. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Demonstrators take cover during riots at a march to the state ombudsman's office in Caracas, Venezuela on May 29, 2017. Slogans that read “Maduro, murderer!” and “Maduro, dictator!” began appearing on roads and walls around the country. Though the majority of protesters were peaceful, youths wearing masks and brandishing homemade Viking-style shields started turning up at the front of rallies to taunt security forces. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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A man accused of stealing was set on fire during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, May 20, 2017. Guns appeared on the streets, and on several occasions security officials were caught on camera firing directly at demonstrators. Police were targeted with homemade explosives. Opposition supporters burned one man alive. (Marco Bello / REUTERS)

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Volunteer members of a primary care response team, huddle together during clashes with security forces at a rally in Caracas, Venezuela on April 26, 2017. Amid raging protests Venezuelans grew accustomed to navigating around barricades and burning streets as they tried to get to school and work. Some days, the country virtually shut down. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Opposition lawmaker Luis Stefanelli (L) gestures next to fellow opposition lawmaker Leonardo Regnault after a group of Maduro supporters burst into the National Assembly, in Caracas on July 05, 2017. While global opinion hardened against Maduro, gangs burst into the National Assembly and beat up opposition lawmakers. In a matter of days, the nation’s best-known jailed opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, was released from prison, placed on home arrest, taken back to jail, allowed home again. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Riot security forces clash with demonstrators as a motorcycle is set on fire during a protest against President Maduro's government in San Cristobal, Venezuela on May 29, 2017. The deaths, injuries and arrests mounted. Over the chaotic months, at least 125 people died, thousands were injured and thousands were jailed. (Carlos Eduardo Ramirez / REUTERS)

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Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate with a picture of Hugo Chavez during the National Constituent Assembly's first session, in Caracas, Venezuela on August 4, 2017. By the end of July, many opposition supporters feared for their lives and protest numbers dwindled. Maduro said he was defeating a US-backed coup and authorities held an election, which the opposition boycotted, for an all-powerful Constituent Assembly charged with imposing order on the country. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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A demonstrator returns a tear gas grenade while clashing with riot police during a rally in Caracas. Having failed to block the Constituent Assembly, opposition supporters decided to tackle Maduro at the ballot-box in regional elections in October, but that backfired when they lost most of the governorships despite polls predicting wins. The opposition alleged fraud, but their complaints did not get traction as Maduro cemented his authority. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)

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Demonstrators scuffle with security forces during an opposition rally in Caracas. Most recently, in November, Venezuela said it planned to renegotiate its entire foreign debt, adding another dimension to the deepening national crisis. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins / REUTERS)