Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was placed under house arrest Tuesday, just days after being briefly released from prison, his son confirmed. The move highlights the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela and raises concerns about the country’s commitment to releasing political prisoners.
MIRA TAMBIÉN: Alex Saab: Todo lo que se sabe del empresario cercano a Maduro y las versiones de su captura en Venezuela
“My father remains unjustly imprisoned, because house arrest is still prison, and we demand his full freedom and that of all political prisoners,” Ramón Guanipa posted on X. He also expressed gratitude for the efforts of the U.S. Government “for its work in favor of the freedom of Venezuela and all political prisoners.”
El líder político de Venezuela Juan Pablo Guanipa habla con los medios tras su excarcelación del Helicoide en Caracas el 8 de febrero de 2026. (Foto de Pedro MATTEY / AFP).
/ PEDRO MATTEY
Guanipa, a former lawmaker and close ally of opposition leader María Corina Machado, was released from detention on Sunday, February 8, 2026, after being held since May 2025. The release was part of a broader move by the government to free individuals facing politically motivated accusations.
Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa rides on the back of a motorcycle after his release from prison in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.(AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
Following his release, Guanipa spoke to the press, advocating for reconciliation in Venezuela “with the truth.” He stated that his nation “has the right to be a free country” and participated in a motorcycle caravan toward El Helicoide, a detention center for political prisoners where family members are holding a vigil demanding the release of their loved ones.
However, later that evening, Guanipa was reportedly detained by “heavily armed men” in Caracas, according to opposition leader María Corina Machado. His family reported he was “kidnapped” by the regime and demanded his immediate release.
Juan Pablo Guanipa sostiene una bandera de Venezuela en una caravana de motocicletas y automóviles hacia varias cárceles, entre ellas el Helicoide. (EFE/ Ronald Peña R).
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab’s office announced Monday that it had requested a court to revoke the precautionary measures granted to Guanipa, citing non-compliance with court-imposed conditions. The office did not specify the conditions but indicated it was seeking house arrest. As of Monday morning, Guanipa’s whereabouts were unknown, and his son, Ramón Guanipa Linares, demanded “immediate proof of life.”
Ramón Guanipa, hijo de Juan Pablo Guanipa, muestra el documento de liberación de su padre. (Foto de Federico PARRA / AFP).
/ FEDERICO PARRA
According to the Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights organization, 426 political prisoners have been released since January 8, 2026. However, these releases are often conditional, with restrictions such as travel bans and requirements to regularly report to the courts. As of February 11, 2026, 644 political prisoners remain in detention, including 185 military personnel, 80 women, and one teenager.
Conditional Release
Una persona sostiene un cartel durante una manifestación ante la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela por la Ley de Amnistía. (EFE/ Miguel Gutiérrez).
/ MIGUEL GUTIÉRREZ
Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of the Foro Penal, explained that the situation in Venezuela does not represent a full release of political prisoners, but rather excarcerations under strict judicial conditions. “These people exit jail, but are still subject to precautionary measures,” he said. According to Himiob, criminal proceedings remain open, allowing the state to maintain constant control over those released.
Common restrictions include travel bans, mandatory periodic reporting to the courts, and, in some cases, prohibitions against public statements. In other words that those released could be returned to prison at any time if the government believes they have violated any of these conditions. “Everyone could suffer the same fate as Juan Pablo Guanipa.”
Pressure from Diosdado Cabello
La presidenta interina de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, habla junto al ministro del Poder Popular para el Interior, Diosdado Cabello, durante una conferencia de prensa el 14 de enero de 2026. (Foto de Juan BARRETO / AFP).
/ JUAN BARRETO
Political analyst Luis Nunes agreed that the releases of political prisoners do not constitute real freedom, but are part of a scheme of restrictive precautionary measures that preserve those released under state control. He described this as a mechanism of censorship and political control, rather than a policy of justice.
Specifically regarding Guanipa’s case, Nunes described the process as a “fictitious release.” He believes the regime’s decisions regarding Guanipa are not solely based on President Delcy Rodríguez, but on internal pressures exerted by Diosdado Cabello, the current Minister of Interior, whom he attributes a key role in maintaining and tightening these measures.
“I think Diosdado Cabello is pressuring the president in exchange for his support. But I think Diosdado Cabello’s time is running out,” he said.
El ministro del Interior y secretario general del gobernante Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello. (EFE/ Con El Mazo Dando).
/ Con el Mazo Dando
According to the analyst, Guanipa’s re-detention occurred after the opposition leader broke his silence, made public statements, and engaged in visible political activities in Caracas, which, he said, generated alarm within the ruling circles due to the risk of dismantling the “peace narrative” that the government is trying to project.
Nunes remarked that this pattern of conditional releases is not latest and reproduces practices already seen during the Maduro government. “In this respect, nothing has changed in Venezuela. It is not a real transition, it is a deception.”
The development underscores the continued political instability in Venezuela and the challenges facing efforts to secure the release of political prisoners.
