Following his arrest almost three months ago, the fate of Leopoldo Lopez will be decided by a court trial. The opposition leader will stand trial along with a number of students who the court believes instigated violence.

A judge decided that Lopez should be tried in a court and face criminal charges over the protests that begun in February. According to the AFP, Lopez will face charges of instigating arson and property damage and with criminal association. If he is convicted, he will face a sentence of 10 years.

The leader of the right-wing opposition party Popular Will, Lopez has been a vocal opponent of President Nicolas Maduro and his chavista policies. Protests erupted early in February over rising crime, corruption and food shortages. As the protests continue, demonstrators now ask for Lopez to be released, according to AFP.

However, following a quick hearing, the judge decreed that Lopez and four student protesters will go to trial and will remain in custody until then, though a trial date was not announced. The Popular Will party expressed its disappointment at the ruling on Twitter.

"The judge presented her decision, ratified the Public Ministry's petitions, regrettably justice was not served," the party tweeted, according to the newspaper EFE.

The news agency reported that, on February 12, Lopez led a protest, while students also called for another protest; however, the day ended badly when hooded assailants attacked the judiciary building as well as various police vehicles. At the end of the day, three were dead and dozens wounded.

Before the negotiations collapsed, one of the opposition's demands was the release of Lopez and other political prisoners. However, the Maduro government refused to release them. With Lopez's indictment and uncertain legal future, reconciliation between the two sides seems unlikely.