Venezuelan Opposition Leader Guanipa Re-Arrested Hours After Release in Caracas
Prominent Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was detained late Sunday by heavily armed men, only hours after being freed from prison, according to his family and political allies. This dramatic turn of events has sparked outrage and accusations of government orchestration in Caracas.
Details of the Re-Arrest Incident
Supporters of Guanipa described the incident as a kidnapping, directly accusing authorities in Caracas of orchestrating the operation. Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office later stated it had requested that Guanipa be placed under house arrest, alleging he violated the conditions of his release. However, opposition groups have dismissed this as a pretext for renewed political persecution.
Guanipa, the 61-year-old leader of the conservative Primero Justicia party, was among several high-profile political detainees released on Sunday. This move was seen as an attempt by Caracas to meet United States demands following the removal of former strongman Nicolás Maduro. Despite this gesture, Guanipa was reportedly seized later that night in the Los Chorros area of Caracas.
Eyewitness Accounts and Family Concerns
Opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado reported that armed men in civilian clothing arrived in multiple vehicles and took Guanipa away by force. Guanipa’s son, Ramón, provided a harrowing account, stating his father was ambushed at a late-night gathering by about 10 unidentified agents who were heavily armed. The family is now demanding proof that Guanipa is alive, heightening fears for his safety.
Primero Justicia has accused top government officials of responsibility for the incident, warning that they would be held accountable for any harm that comes to Guanipa. This re-arrest has intensified tensions in Venezuela’s already volatile political landscape.
Background of Guanipa’s Detention
Guanipa had spent more than eight months in detention before his release earlier on Sunday. Shortly after leaving the detention center, he posted a video online saying there was much to discuss about Venezuela’s present and future, emphasizing that truth must remain central. His initial arrest in May 2025 came after authorities accused him, without publicly presenting evidence, of involvement in an alleged plot to disrupt regional and legislative elections—claims he has consistently denied.
Machado had earlier celebrated his release, calling him a hero and praising his resilience. Another opposition figure and Machado ally, lawyer Perkins Rocha, was also freed on Sunday, though under strict conditions, according to his wife. Human rights group Foro Penal confirmed that at least 30 political prisoners were released that day, including opposition members Luis Somaza and activist Jesús Armas.
Broader Context of Political Detentions in Venezuela
Opposition groups and rights organizations have long accused Venezuela’s government of using arbitrary detention to silence critics, estimating that hundreds of political prisoners remain incarcerated. Authorities deny holding prisoners for political reasons, insisting those detained have committed crimes. The releases follow a pledge by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez that all political detainees would be freed by mid-February, alongside moves toward an amnesty bill described by officials as a step toward national reconciliation.
While the government claims hundreds have been released in recent weeks, rights groups argue the process has been slow and uneven, with significant discrepancies between official figures and independent counts. This case highlights ongoing challenges in Venezuela’s political and human rights environment, with Guanipa’s re-arrest serving as a stark reminder of the risks faced by opposition figures.
