Venezuelan opposition leader 'kidnapped' hours after group freed from prison

by · UPI

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said colleague and longtime government critic Juan Pablo Guanipa was "kidnapped" by armed men late Sunday, hours after he and 34 other jailed politicians were released from prison.

"A few minutes ago, Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas," Machado, a Nobel Peace laureate, said in an early Monday social media statement.

"Heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away by force. We demand his immediate release."

Guanipa's son, Ramon Guanipa, confirmed the abduction in a recorded statement. He said his father was "ambushed" by about 10 unidentified people at around 11:45 p.m. local time Sunday.

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"They pointed weapons at him, were heavily armed and took him away by force," Ramon Guanipa said.

"I demand that due process be respected immediately. I hold the regime responsible for anything that happens to my parents. Enough of so much repression."

Guanipa is widely regarded as the leader of the center-right Primero Justicia party, and Machado is a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader closely aligned with him.

His Primero Justicia party reported that he was last seen being loaded by armed men into a silver Toyota Corolla. The Vente Venezuela party, which was founded by Machado, said four cars were involved in the abduction.

Primero Justicia, which translates to Justice First in English, said it holds acting President Delcy Rodriguez, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez and Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela leader Diosdado Cabello "responsible for any harm to Juan Pablo's life."

"We call on the international community for the immediate release of Juan Pablo Guanipa and for an immediate and unconditional end to the persecution of the opposition," Primero Justicia said in a statement.

"Venezuela is determined to change and yearns for justice."

Guanipa was among the 35 political prisoners Venezuela had released over Sunday, Alfredo Romero, president of rights group Foro Penal, said in a statement.

Uncorroborated videos and pictures posted online show Guanipa celebrating and riding on the back of a motorcycle through the streets while brandishing a Venezuelan flag. He also gave several media interviews and spoke to cheering supporters in Caracas.

"VICTORY FOR THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE," he said on a post to his X account. "LONG LIVE A FREE VENEZUELA!"

Following the announcements from the opposition leaders, the government of U.S.-detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro issued a statement saying its Public Prosecutor's Office had asked the court to revoke Guanipa's conditional release, alleging he had violated its conditions.

Prosecutors asked the judge to move Guanipa to house arrest.

The alleged violations were not made public.

Prosecutors said house arrest was necessary "in order to safeguard the criminal proceedings," referring to the case that led to Guanipa's detention eight months ago.

Guanipa was detained by the Maduro regime on May 23, just before regional and parliamentary elections. The U.S. State Department said in response that he was among some 70 arrested at that time.

The opposition leader was detained on terrorism-related charges, with authorities alleging he was the leader of a terrorist group seeking to sabotage the May 25 elections.

Guanipa's whereabouts were not immediately clear.

Foro Penal president Alfredo Romero said, "We do not have clear information about who took him."