Opposition Leader Kidnapped Shortly After Release
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado reported that her colleague Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped just hours after being freed from detention.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate stated on Sunday that Guanipa, who leads the Justice First party, was abducted in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas, the capital city.
"Heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away by force,"she wrote on social media early Monday.
Background on Juan Pablo Guanipa
Guanipa, a former vice-president of the National Assembly, had spent eight months imprisoned. He was among several political prisoners released following the US seizure of Venezuela's then-President Nicolás Maduro in January.
The centre-right Justice First party stated that Guanipa was kidnapped by the "repressive forces of the dictatorship" while moving between locations.
"Those accompanying him said weapons were pointed at the group before Guanipa was loaded into a car,"the party added.
Justice First held key government figures responsible for Guanipa's safety, naming interim president Delcy Rodríguez, National Assembly speaker Jorge Rodríguez, and interior minister Diosdado Cabello.
"We hold Delcy Rodríguez, Jorge Rodríguez, and Diosdado Cabello responsible for any harm to Juan Pablo's life,"the party wrote on social media.
The party also urged the international community to demand Guanipa's immediate release and to end the Venezuelan government's persecution of opposition members.
Family and Public Reaction
Earlier on the same day, Guanipa's son Ramón celebrated his father's release on social media:
"Our entire family will be able to hug again soon."
Following the kidnapping, Ramón posted a video demanding proof that his father was alive, stating:
"I hold the regime responsible for anything that happens to my father. Enough of this repression,"he said.
Details on Guanipa's Political Career and Detention
Guanipa was one of at least 30 individuals freed on Sunday, according to Foro Penal, an organization providing assistance to political prisoners in Venezuela.
He leads the Justice First party and was elected governor of the Zulia region in 2017. However, he was barred from taking office after refusing to swear an oath before Maduro's National Constituent Assembly.
After being accused of terrorism and treason for contesting the 2024 election results, Guanipa went into hiding.
He was located and detained by Venezuelan security forces in May 2025.
Context of Political Repression in Venezuela
Opposition and human rights organizations have long accused the Maduro government of using political detentions to suppress dissent and silence critics.
