Mr. Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped on the evening of February 8, immediately after being released from prison, according to his family and many political allies of the Venezuelan opposition leader.
He was kidnapped by a group of people in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas, according to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who is currently not present in Venezuela.
“Heavily armed men in plain clothes came on 4 cars and forced him away by force,” Ms. Machado shared on social network X.
In a video posted on social media, Mr. Guanipa's son, Ramón, said that his father was attending an event at 11:45 pm when he was ambushed by a group of about 10 people.
They pointed guns at people, they were heavily armed, and they arrested my father" - Ramón said.
Mr. Guanipa is the leader of the conservative Primero Justicia party, among the prisoners released on February 8. Mr. Guanipa was detained for more than 8 months before being released.
Mr. Guanipa was arrested in May 2025, after being accused of being involved in a terrorist plot against the elections. Mr. Guanipa has repeatedly denied this accusation.
Previously, when leaving prison in Caracas, Mr. Guanipa posted a video on social media, declaring: "Today we are released. There is much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela.
