Venezuelan Opposition Leader’s Ally Juan Pablo Guanipa Kidnapped Hours After Prison Release

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado reported that her ally Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped in Caracas just hours after his release from prison. Guanipa had been detained since May 2025 on politically charged charges. The abduction raises serious concerns about the safety of opposition figures, even amid government claims of releasing political prisoners under pressure.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reported that one of her closest political allies, Juan Pablo Guanipa, was kidnapped in Caracas just hours after being released from prison. According to Machado, heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in multiple vehicles and forcibly took Guanipa away, prompting urgent calls for his release. The incident has sparked widespread concern, as it comes at a time when the Venezuelan government has announced the release of a number of political prisoners under increasing domestic and international pressure.
Guanipa, a long-time ally of Machado, had been detained in Caracas since May 2025. He was accused by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello of orchestrating a terrorist plot aimed at sabotaging the legislative elections that took place that same month. Following months in detention, Guanipa had been released under certain conditions, reportedly including house arrest, but the government’s Public Prosecutor’s Office claimed that he had failed to comply with the terms of his release. The exact conditions governing his freedom remain unclear, and the sudden abduction has intensified fears for his safety.
Guanipa’s son, Ramon, described the kidnapping in a video posted on social media, saying that ten heavily armed men carried out what appeared to be a well-planned ambush. The video captured the tense and chaotic circumstances of the abduction, reinforcing concerns that political opposition figures in Venezuela remain at risk even after official release. Prior to his re-arrest, Guanipa had addressed his followers on social media, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his situation and urging attention to Venezuela’s ongoing political challenges. “Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront,” he said, as government officers and armored vehicles were seen behind him.
The kidnapping has occurred against the backdrop of ongoing debates about the treatment of political prisoners in Venezuela. Prisoner rights group Foro Penal reported that 18 individuals were released on Sunday and said it was still verifying additional cases. Machado’s political organization noted that some of its local organizers, as well as her attorney Perkins Rocha, were among those freed. Machado herself has posted messages on social media, including images of released prisoners reunited with smiling family members, calling for the continued release of all political detainees. “We will not rest until every single political prisoner is freed and until all of them return home,” she wrote.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the interim role following the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, has faced mounting pressure both domestically and internationally to release hundreds of political prisoners. The government maintains that individuals in detention are being held for criminal acts, not political beliefs, and denies the accusations of politically motivated imprisonment. Nevertheless, human rights organizations and opposition leaders have consistently criticized the pace and transparency of the releases. Rodríguez’s administration announced on January 8 that it would free a significant number of prisoners, a move widely supported by the opposition and the U.S., but observers have noted that the lack of clear information regarding who is to be released continues to create uncertainty and risk for those previously detained.
Since the January announcement, Foro Penal has confirmed that 383 political prisoners have been released, though many detainees remain in custody, and the government has not provided a comprehensive list or detailed criteria for further releases. The sudden kidnapping of Guanipa highlights the precarious situation of opposition figures in Venezuela, demonstrating that despite official measures suggesting reform, political repression and threats to personal safety remain pressing concerns. This latest development underscores the ongoing tensions within the country’s political landscape, the vulnerability of opposition leaders, and the urgent need for transparent and enforceable protections for individuals recently released from detention.