Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado reported that her colleague Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped just hours after being released from detention. The incident occurred in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas, highlighting the continuing dangers for political figures in the country.
Heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away by force, Machado stated on social media. Guanipa, who leads the Justice First party, had spent eight months in prison and was recently released amid the reshuffling of political prisoners following a series of controversial events led by the U.S. government against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
Justice First party officials claim Guanipa's kidnapping was executed by the 'repressive forces of the dictatorship' while he was traveling. Eyewitnesses reported that weapons were pointed at Guanipa and those accompanying him.
His party has placed the blame on high-ranking officials, including Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello, demanding international intervention for Guanipa's immediate release and to halt the government's harassment of opposition figures.
Guanipa was celebrated by his family and supporters just hours before the incident, with emotions high after his liberation. He had previously been imprisoned under accusations of terrorism and treason for disputing the legitimacy of the 2024 election results, leading to fears over his safety.
This kidnapping underscores the dangers faced by opposition activists in Venezuela, where government suppression of dissent is common. Reports indicate that Guanipa was one of at least 30 political prisoners released on the same day, raising hopes for a more open political environment, though this incident reveals the ongoing risks.
