The close ally of Maria Corina Machado had been detained for over eight months. Guanipa is one of numerous prominent opposition figures who were released on Sunday, before being taken again by “heavily armed men.”
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said Juan Pablo Guanipa, one of her closest allies, was kidnapped.
This came just hours after his release from prison.
“Heavily armed men, dressed in civilian clothes, arrived in four vehicles and violently took him away,” she posted on her X account, demanding his release.
A close ally of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Machado, Guanipa had been held in a detention facility in the capital Caracas since his arrest in May 2025.
He had been accused by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello of leading a terrorist plot to sabotage the legislative election that same month.
Guanipa’s son Ramon posted a video on social media in which he described the kidnapping as an ambush by ten heavily armed, unidentified men.
‘Much to discuss’ about Venezuela’s future, says Guanipa
Before being held again, Guanipa spoke about his release on social media, with officers and armored vehicles being seen behind him.
“Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront,” Guanipa said.
Prisoner rights group Foro Penal said 18 people were released on Sunday and that it was verifying additional cases.
Machado’s political organization said some of its local political organizers as well as her attorney, Perkins Rocha, were among those freed.
“Let’s go for the freedom of Venezuela!” she posted on X.
Machado also posted photos of several of those released, pictured with smiling family members.
“We will not rest until every single political prisoner is freed and until all of them return home,” Machado said.
Rodriguez under pressure to release prisoners
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez — who assumed the interim role following the US capture of Nicolas Maduro — has faced increasing pressure to release hundreds of political prisoners.
Government denies holding people for their political beliefs, and says those held in prison have committed crimes.
Rodriguez’s government announced on January 8 that it would free a significant number of prisoners, which had been a key demand from Venezuela’s opposition and human rights organizations, with the calls backed by the US.
Source : https://www.dw.com/en/venezuela-opposition-leader-guanipa-kidnapped-after-release/a-75864364
