Juan Pablo Guanipa, Ally Of Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Reportedly Kidnapped After Prison Release
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said Monday that one of her closest allies was kidnapped hours after she was released from prison.
The government released many prominent opposition members from prison on Sunday after long politically motivated detentions.
Machado said on social media that Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped in the residential area of the capital Caracas at midnight.
“Heavily armed men in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away using violence,” he said in X. “We demand his immediate release.”
The statements of opposition figures came as the government. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has faced mounting pressure to release hundreds of people detained months or years ago in connection with their political activities. The statements also followed the visit of representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Venezuela.
The government’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Monday.
Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela after the then-President was captured on January 3 Nicolas Maduro by the US military. His government began releasing prisoners days later.
Some of those released Sunday joined families outside prisons waiting for their loved ones to be released. “We are not afraid! We are not afraid!” They shouted slogans. and walked a short distance.
“I believe our country has completely changed,” former governor Guanipa told reporters hours after his release. “I believe it is now the duty of all of us to focus on building a free and democratic country.”
Guanipa had been detained for more than eight months.
Venezuela-based prisoner rights group Foro Penal confirmed that at least 30 people were released on Sunday.
Machado’s political organization said that in addition to Guanipa, several of its members, including María Oropeza, were among those released. live broadcast of his arrest by military intelligence officers They entered his house with a crowbar. Machado’s attorney, Perkins Rocha, was also released.
Foro Penal’s president, Alfredo Romero, expressed serious concerns about Guanipa’s disappearance.
In his statement to X, he said, “So far we do not have clear information about who took him.” “We hope for his release as soon as possible.”
