[JURIST] The European Union (EU) [official website] Council on Monday urged [official statement] Venezuelan officials to release political prisoners and hold elections in hopes of ending the violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro [official profile, in Spanish]. The EU called for peace saying that:

Violence and the use of force will not solve the country’s crisis. The fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people, including the right to demonstrate peacefully, must be respected. It is essential that all parties refrain from violent acts. In this context, the announcement of the extension and reinforcement of armed civil groups is disturbing, as it can fuel a resurgence of violence and contribute to no solution.

EU officials said they hope that Venezuelan authorities can work constructively toward a solution to the country’s crisis that not only affects Venezuelans, but also more than 600,000 Europeans whose security is a concern for the EU. The council also said it is willing to cooperate with Venezuelan authorities to assist with security and to protect all European citizens in Venezuela during these protests that have injured hundreds and killed at least 39 people since they began [Reuters report].

Venezuela has had significant political unrest since the December 2015 election. In October of 2016, the National Assembly voted to open criminal impeachment [JURIST report] proceedings against Maduro, alleging that he manipulated the constitution to remain in power. That same month the Assembly also declared [JURIST report] that there was a breakdown of constitutional order and that the government had staged a coup by blocking an attempt to remove Maduro from power. Instability peaked on March 30 when the Supreme Court of Venezuela dissolved [JURIST report] the opposition-controlled National Assembly and assumed all legislative powers. In January 2016, Venezuela’s National Assembly swore in [press release, in Spanish] three opposition deputies despite a Supreme Court ruling that barred [JURIST report] the induction of the elected lawmakers. The ruling also suspended four elected lawmakers for alleged election fraud in the December sixth elections.