In a significant political development ahead of anticipated legislative action, Venezuelan authorities on Sunday released two of the country's most prominent opposition figures: leader Juan Pablo Guanipa and legal advisor Perkins Rocha, both close associates of opposition leader María Corina Machado. This move, coming just days before the scheduled passage of a landmark amnesty law on Tuesday, lends considerable political weight to the timing of their release.
Details of release and ongoing restrictions
Juan Pablo Guanipa, 61, confirmed his release via the X platform, stating that his freedom came after a long ordeal lasting a year and a half, during which he was forced into hiding for 10 months and then held incommunicado for approximately nine months in Caracas. Despite his release, Guanipa emphasized that this step does not signify "complete freedom," explaining that the continued legal harassment, restrictions, and threats represent ongoing political persecution. He affirmed his determination to continue speaking out about Venezuela's present and future.
For his part, Perkins Rocha, 63, Machado’s legal advisor, returned home, where his wife Maria Constanza Cipriani confirmed his arrival, but noted regretfully that his return was conditional on strict precautionary measures, the exact details of which were not disclosed, thus keeping the sword of censorship hanging over him.
Background to the crisis: the 2024 elections and the power struggle
These releases cannot be separated from the tense political context that Venezuela has been experiencing since the presidential elections of July 28, 2014. The country entered a dark period after the National Electoral Council declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner of a third term, a result categorically rejected by the opposition. María Corina Machado and opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia led a widespread campaign challenging the results, supported by vote tallies they claimed proved González's victory by a significant margin.
This electoral dispute led to a massive wave of protests, which the authorities met with a broad security campaign known as "Operation Ton Ton," targeting hundreds of activists and politicians, including Rocha, who was arrested in August 2024 on charges related to terrorism and incitement, and Guaniba, who was prosecuted on charges of conspiracy.
International dimensions and pressure from human rights organizations
These releases are of particular international significance, coming amid ongoing pressure from the United States and the international community on the Caracas government to improve its human rights record and release political prisoners. From his exile in Spain, Edmundo González Urrutia welcomed the move but reiterated his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in the country.
According to the human rights NGO Foro Penal, Sunday's releases included at least 18 people, bringing the total number of those released for political reasons since January 8 to approximately 400. Observers suggest these steps may be an attempt by the government to improve the political climate or alleviate international isolation before enacting a general amnesty law. However, the opposition remains cautious, believing that the road to full democracy is still long.
