Venezuelan Opposition Leader Released and Recaptured Within Hours

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa was detained on Sunday night, only hours after being freed from prison.

Guanipa, 61, is a senior member of the Primero Justicia party and has been an outspoken critic of the government. Witnesses, including his son, said about 10 armed men arrived in several vehicles, pointed guns, and took him away. “They had no identification whatsoever,” his son said in a video posted online.

Later, the public prosecutor’s office confirmed it had asked for Guanipa to be placed under house arrest, claiming he had broken the conditions of his release.

The detention came on the same day Venezuela freed dozens of political prisoners, part of a deal with Washington after former president Nicolás Maduro was captured by US forces last month. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez has promised more releases in the coming days.

Human rights group Foro Penal said at least 30 people were freed on Sunday, but hundreds remain in jail. The government denies holding anyone for political reasons, saying detainees face criminal charges.