Venezuela opposition figure freed, then rearrested after calling for elections / Photo: © AFP
Venezuela opposition figure freed, then rearrested after calling for elections
Venezuelan Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado said Monday that armed government agents had "kidnapped" a close ally — hours after he was released from prison and demanded democratic elections.
Machado said a group of heavily armed men in civilian clothes seized Juan Pablo Guanipa, 61, in the Los Chorros district of Caracas.
The former National Assembly vice president had walked out of jail Sunday as part of a slow-moving wave of releases of political prisoners.
The Public Prosecutor's Office later confirmed Guanipa had been detained for violating the terms of his release and would be placed under house arrest, without providing more details.
Guanipa's son Ramon Guanipa demanded proof of life of his father.
"He didn't violate any of the conditions of his release, and we don't know where he is," he said.
Guanipa's arrest sent a chilling message to those pushing for democratic reforms -- especially Machado, who is pondering a return to her homeland from exile in the United States.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a key figure in the repressive administration of president Nicolas Maduro before the leftist leader was ousted in a US raid last month in Caracas, blamed the "stupidity" of the opposition for Guanipa's fate.
"Nothing happened until the stupidity of some politicians, who thought they could do whatever they wanted and stir up trouble in the country," Cabello told reporters, claiming that Guanipa had violated his parole conditions.
Machado said Guanipa's detention undermined promises to end decades of repression and de-facto one-party rule, but said she was still determined to return to Venezuela.
"This does not affect my return in the slightest. Quite the opposite," she insisted.
During a few hours of freedom, Guanipa met relatives of political detainees and challenged authorities to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.
The opposition is widely believed to have won that vote, but Maduro claimed victory and remained in power.
"You don't want to respect it? Then let's go to a (new) electoral process," Guanipa told AFP on Sunday.
- Winds of change? -
Guanipa was first arrested in May 2025 on charges of "terrorism," money laundering and inciting violence, accusations rights groups say were widely used to silence critics under Maduro.
His renewed detention came on the eve of a landmark vote in Venezuela's National Assembly that would grant amnesty to political dissidents and others.
The amnesty bill had been hailed as a potential turning point for the South American nation, a month after Maduro was snatched from a Caracas compound and spirited to the United States to face trial.
Maduro's replacement, former vice president Delcy Rodriguez, has tentatively cooperated with Washington, promising a slice of Venezuela's vast oil reserves and a major political opening.
Rights group Foro Penal said there have been nearly 400 prisoner releases since Rodriguez took charge.
But reforms have been slow, and much of the military-backed government remains unchanged.
Rights groups estimate that around 700 people are still waiting to be freed.
US congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, a close ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, warned that Guanipa should be released immediately.
"If anything happens to him, there will be very grave consequences. The United States is watching," she posted in Spanish.
Political prisoner Albany Colmenares was among those released to jubilant scenes Sunday.
Flag-waving family and friends cried "freedom" and rushed to hug her as she emerged from Tocuyito prison west of Caracas.
"Many good things are coming for our country," Colmenares said. "We will continue to work very hard for that, and we ask you to continue accompanying us."
(O.Tatarinov--DTZ)
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