Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has reported that one of her closest political allies was kidnapped in the capital Caracas just hours after being released from prison. The incident occurred early Monday morning, casting a shadow over recent prisoner releases by the acting government.
Midnight Kidnapping in Caracas
Machado stated on social media platform X that Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and prominent opposition figure, was taken around midnight in a residential neighborhood of Caracas. "Heavily armed men, dressed in civilian clothes, arrived in four vehicles and violently took him away," she posted. "We demand his immediate release."
Recent Prisoner Releases Under Scrutiny
The kidnapping follows Sunday's release of several prominent opposition members from prison after lengthy detentions widely viewed as politically motivated. The government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez had freed at least 30 people, according to Venezuelan prisoners' rights group Foro Penal.
These releases came as Rodríguez's government faces mounting international pressure to free hundreds of people detained months or years ago for their political activities. The prisoner releases followed a visit to Venezuela by representatives of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Guanipa's Brief Freedom
Guanipa had spent more than eight months in custody before his release on Sunday. Hours before his kidnapping, he told reporters, "I am convinced that our country has completely changed. I am convinced that it is now up to all of us to focus on building a free and democratic country."
Some of those freed Sunday joined families waiting outside prisons, chanting "We are not afraid! We are not afraid!" as they marched a short distance in celebration of their release.
Government Transition and Prisoner Policy
Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela's acting president after the January 3 capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military. Her government began releasing political prisoners days later, marking a significant shift in policy from the previous administration.
In addition to Guanipa, Machado's political organization confirmed several of its members were among those released Sunday, including María Oropeza, who had livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar. Machado's attorney, Perkins Rocha, was also freed.
Growing Concerns Over Disappearance
Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, expressed serious concern over Guanipa's disappearance. "So far, we have no clear information about who took him," he stated on X. "We hope he will be released immediately."
The government's press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment early Monday regarding the kidnapping allegations. The incident raises questions about security for recently released political prisoners and the stability of Venezuela's transitional government.
