Venezuelan Opposition Leader Juan Pablo Guanipa Re-Detained Hours After Prison Release, Sparking 'Kidnapping' Accusations

 

Caracas, Venezuela – Prominent Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was seized late Sunday by heavily armed men in civilian clothing, just hours after his release from prison, according to his family, political allies, and witnesses. The incident has been labeled a “kidnapping” by supporters, who accuse authorities in Caracas of orchestrating the operation to undermine recent concessions amid international pressure.

Guanipa, the 61-year-old leader of the conservative Primero Justicia party, was among several high-profile political detainees freed earlier that day. The releases were widely interpreted as a gesture by the Venezuelan government to comply with United States demands following the ousting of former strongman Nicolás Maduro in a political upheaval last year.

However, Guanipa’s freedom was short-lived. Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado reported that armed men arrived in multiple vehicles and forcibly took Guanipa from a gathering in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas. Guanipa’s son, Ramón Guanipa, described the ambush involving about 10 unidentified agents who were heavily armed. “We are demanding proof that my father is alive,” Ramón said in a statement, expressing fears for his safety.

The Primero Justicia party issued a strong condemnation, directly blaming top government officials for the incident and warning that they would be held accountable for any harm to Guanipa. “This is not justice; this is a kidnapping,” the party stated on social media.

Venezuela’s public prosecutor’s office later acknowledged the re-detention, claiming it had requested Guanipa be placed under house arrest for allegedly violating the conditions of his conditional release. No specific details on the alleged violations were provided in the initial announcement.

Guanipa had been detained for more than eight months prior to Sunday’s release. He was arrested in May 2025 after authorities accused him—without publicly presenting evidence—of involvement in an alleged plot to disrupt regional and local elections. The charges were part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures under the Maduro regime, which drew widespread international criticism for human rights abuses and suppression of dissent.

Shortly after leaving the detention center earlier Sunday, Guanipa posted a video message on social media, expressing optimism about Venezuela’s future. “There is much to discuss about our present and our future,” he said. “Truth must remain central to our path forward.”

The re-detention has intensified concerns about the stability of Venezuela’s transitional process and the government’s commitment to political reconciliation. Human rights groups and international observers have called for Guanipa’s immediate release and transparency regarding his whereabouts and condition.

As of Monday, no further updates on Guanipa’s status had been provided by authorities, and protests erupted in parts of Caracas demanding accountability. The incident underscores ongoing tensions in Venezuela as the country navigates post-Maduro reforms amid calls for democratic restoration and justice for political prisoners.