Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal on August 22 upheld President Nicolas Maduro's victory in the recent presidential election, despite ongoing controversy and widespread claims of fraud.

Court President Caryslia Rodriguez announced, "The results of the presidential election of July 28 released by the national electoral council, where Nicolas Maduro was elected president of the republic, are validated." She added that the decision "cannot be appealed".

The electoral authority has maintained since election night that Maduro secured just over half the votes. However, the opposition has published what it claims are 83% of voting machine tallies, showing their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez with 67% support.

Gonzalez rejected the widely expected court's ruling, stating on social media that "Sovereignty rests with the people and is intransferable. Organs of state emanate from and are subject to popular sovereignty."

The opposition contends the Supreme Court, which is packed with Maduro loyalists, lacks constitutional authority to perform electoral functions.

"In Venezuela, the judicial system is essentially non-existent due to the complete absence of the rule of law," Isaias Medina III, a former UN Security Council diplomat, told Fox News.

"The separation of powers was effectively dismantled when Chavismo took control, resulting in ‘courts’ with unqualified personnel that are merely extensions of Maduro's regime, parroting his dictates without independent judgment or integrity. The courts are a third-rate play, directed by Maduro, who pays their bills."

Both Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado face investigations for several crimes, including allegedly "inciting members of the military to commit crimes", after they called on security forces to uphold election results. Maduro has personally called for their arrest.

Judge Rodriguez reported that 33 of 38 political organisations and 9 of 10 candidates, including Maduro and a number of figureheads of the "systemic opposition," attended hearings. However, Edmundo Gonzalez, representing the real opposition coalition, refused to appear and was declared in contempt.

Rodriguez termed Gonzalez's non-compliance with the court's summons as "blatant disrespect", potentially exposing him to unspecified sanctions.

According to the United Nations, at least 23 protesters have been killed in anti-government demonstrations since the election, with approximately 2,400 arrested. Maduro has labelled the demonstrators as "extremists and fascists".

As international attention wanes, the court's decision appears to solidify Maduro's position for another six-year term, set to begin in January, despite ongoing claims of electoral irregularities from several international observers.