Venezuelan opposition figure held once more, shortly after leaving prison
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Feb 10, 2026, 22:36 IST
One moment he walked free; the next, he was taken again. Armed individuals grabbed Juan Pablo Guanipa just hours after he left jail. Outrage followed fast. Opposition voices called it a betrayal. Questions now swirl around promises made about releasing those locked up for dissent. The timing feels too sharp to ignore.
TL;DR
Back on lockdown just hours after walking free, Juan Pablo Guanipa isn’t new to these twists. His team claims they snatched him without legal grounds, though officials argue he broke the rules set at release. This sudden turn stirs doubt around how freely those behind bars are actually being let go.
Out of nowhere, Juan Pablo Guanipa found himself grabbed again, this time late on a Sunday night. Just hours earlier, he had walked free from jail. Armed men showed up without warning. His relatives saw it happen. So did fellow politicians who stand against the current regime. Rights organisations are now sounding alarms. This sudden move throws doubt on whether officials truly meant what they said about freeing dissidents. Fear is spreading among those who challenge authority. Trust in official statements keeps shrinking.
Out near dawn, Guanipa walked free at age sixty-one; head of the conservative Primero Justicia group, held since early last year. That Sunday marked his return after prison stretched beyond two hundred days. Power shifting quietly in Caracas helped clear the way, tied tight to pressure from across the ocean. U.S. troops had pulled Maduro out just weeks before, changing everything fast. Permission to ship oil again, plus lifting financial blocks, depends now on freeing others still locked up.
From her position abroad, María Corina Machado, opposition figure and Nobel recipient, shared details about an incident involving Guanipa. In the Los Chorros area of Caracas, individuals arrived in four cars, carrying weapons. These persons wore ordinary clothes yet acted with authority. Force was used to remove Guanipa from the location. Her account appeared through a post on X. The event unfolded without official uniformity among those involved.
A video message from Ramón Guanipa described how his father came under sudden attack during a nighttime meeting. Around ten individuals carrying weapons arrived without warning, their identities unannounced. Those gathered were met with drawn firearms. Following the arrest, insistence arose for confirmation that the elder Guanipa remained living.
Among those held accountable by Primero Justicia for security failures in Guanipa was Delcy Rodríguez, serving as acting president. Responsibility also extends to Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, according to their declaration on X. Included in the mention is Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The communication surfaced through a public message shared via the platform.
Later, Venezuela’s public prosecutor moved to place Guanipa under house confinement. This followed claims he failed to meet terms set during prior release procedures. Information about the specific violation remains undisclosed by officials. The nature of the claimed infraction has not been made clear.
In May 2025, authorities took Guanipa into custody following claims by Interior Minister Cabello linking him to a supposed scheme targeting both regional and legislative polls; evidence remained undisclosed. Despite the allegations, denial came swiftly from Guanipa, who has maintained innocence on multiple occasions since.
Shortly after his release earlier Sunday, Guanipa posted a video on social media saying, “Today we are being released. Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront.”
Early reports from Foro Penal indicate thirty individuals held for political reasons regained freedom over the weekend. Confirmation came through statements made by group leader Alfredo Romero. Among those no longer detained is Luis Somaza, affiliated with the Popular Will movement. Release also extended to Jesús Armas, once serving as an elected local representative within opposition ranks.
Despite official denial, Foro Penal asserts numerous individuals are still held on political grounds. Authorities counter by labelling them common offenders. Over three hundred eighty names appear in the organisation’s records as freed. Government figures suggest a higher total, surpassing eight hundred releases. Numbers diverge depending on the source cited.
Friday, February 13, was named by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez as the day every detainee would walk free, his pledge made under a proposed amnesty meant to unite the nation. Yet after Guanipa’s return to custody, questions arise about how seriously such promises are upheld.
Back on lockdown just hours after walking free, Juan Pablo Guanipa isn’t new to these twists. His team claims they snatched him without legal grounds, though officials argue he broke the rules set at release. This sudden turn stirs doubt around how freely those behind bars are actually being let go.
Out of nowhere, Juan Pablo Guanipa found himself grabbed again, this time late on a Sunday night. Just hours earlier, he had walked free from jail. Armed men showed up without warning. His relatives saw it happen. So did fellow politicians who stand against the current regime. Rights organisations are now sounding alarms. This sudden move throws doubt on whether officials truly meant what they said about freeing dissidents. Fear is spreading among those who challenge authority. Trust in official statements keeps shrinking.
Out near dawn, Guanipa walked free at age sixty-one; head of the conservative Primero Justicia group, held since early last year. That Sunday marked his return after prison stretched beyond two hundred days. Power shifting quietly in Caracas helped clear the way, tied tight to pressure from across the ocean. U.S. troops had pulled Maduro out just weeks before, changing everything fast. Permission to ship oil again, plus lifting financial blocks, depends now on freeing others still locked up.
From her position abroad, María Corina Machado, opposition figure and Nobel recipient, shared details about an incident involving Guanipa. In the Los Chorros area of Caracas, individuals arrived in four cars, carrying weapons. These persons wore ordinary clothes yet acted with authority. Force was used to remove Guanipa from the location. Her account appeared through a post on X. The event unfolded without official uniformity among those involved.
A video message from Ramón Guanipa described how his father came under sudden attack during a nighttime meeting. Around ten individuals carrying weapons arrived without warning, their identities unannounced. Those gathered were met with drawn firearms. Following the arrest, insistence arose for confirmation that the elder Guanipa remained living.
Among those held accountable by Primero Justicia for security failures in Guanipa was Delcy Rodríguez, serving as acting president. Responsibility also extends to Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, according to their declaration on X. Included in the mention is Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. The communication surfaced through a public message shared via the platform.
Later, Venezuela’s public prosecutor moved to place Guanipa under house confinement. This followed claims he failed to meet terms set during prior release procedures. Information about the specific violation remains undisclosed by officials. The nature of the claimed infraction has not been made clear.
In May 2025, authorities took Guanipa into custody following claims by Interior Minister Cabello linking him to a supposed scheme targeting both regional and legislative polls; evidence remained undisclosed. Despite the allegations, denial came swiftly from Guanipa, who has maintained innocence on multiple occasions since.
Shortly after his release earlier Sunday, Guanipa posted a video on social media saying, “Today we are being released. Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront.”
Early reports from Foro Penal indicate thirty individuals held for political reasons regained freedom over the weekend. Confirmation came through statements made by group leader Alfredo Romero. Among those no longer detained is Luis Somaza, affiliated with the Popular Will movement. Release also extended to Jesús Armas, once serving as an elected local representative within opposition ranks.
Despite official denial, Foro Penal asserts numerous individuals are still held on political grounds. Authorities counter by labelling them common offenders. Over three hundred eighty names appear in the organisation’s records as freed. Government figures suggest a higher total, surpassing eight hundred releases. Numbers diverge depending on the source cited.
Friday, February 13, was named by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez as the day every detainee would walk free, his pledge made under a proposed amnesty meant to unite the nation. Yet after Guanipa’s return to custody, questions arise about how seriously such promises are upheld.