The Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa confirmed that he is now fully free, after spending 10 months in hiding and nearly nine months in prison.
“After 10 months in hiding and nearly nine months of unjust incarceration, I confirm that I am fully free,” he wrote on his account on the social network X.
In the same message, he reiterated his demand for the total release of political prisoners and the return of exiles: “I emphasize that all political prisoners, both civilian and military, must be released immediately, and all exiles must be allowed to return, so that they can live in peace.”
He also thanked "all the Venezuelans for fighting for my release and that of all political prisoners" and added: "Thank you to the United States and the international community for supporting this process."
Criticism of the amnesty law
The release of Guanipa occurs amidst the unanimous approval of an amnesty law that covers political events occurring between 2002 and 2025, but excludes crimes such as serious human rights violations, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, corruption, and armed actions against the sovereignty of the country.
Article 9 of the regulation also excludes those who have “promoted, instigated, solicited, invoked, favored, facilitated, financed, or participated in armed actions or force against the people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity” of Venezuela by “foreign states, corporations, or individuals.”
Regarding that regulation, Guanipa was emphatic: “What was approved today in the Legislative Palace is not an amnesty. It is a shabby document that seeks to blackmail many innocent Venezuelans and excludes several brothers who remain unjustly behind bars.”
He also stated that "The release of political prisoners is not an act of clemency. None of them should have been imprisoned. The dictatorship kidnapped them in an attempt to break the spirit of the Venezuelan people, but they could not."
Reports and call to return
The leader insisted that "there is no reconciliation under coercion" and stated that "the torture centers in Venezuela remain open, hundreds of Venezuelans are still in exile, the laws they use to suppress continue to be in force, and there are dozens of officials from our National Armed Forces who remain imprisoned for speaking out against the plundering of our homeland."
From the state of Zulia, where he went to the altar of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá to give thanks for his liberation, he sent a message to those outside the country: “Everyone should come back! Venezuela is your home, both for those who are leaders and for those who are not; everyone should be able to return,” he stated in remarks shared in another video posted on X.
In those statements, he expressed: “I hope those who are political leaders and those who are not return soon; may everyone come back, because Venezuela belongs to all of us, Venezuela is all of us.” He also pointed out: “This should have never happened; we are talking about eight or nine million Venezuelans. This should have never happened in Venezuela, and unfortunately, it was promoted by the national government of Nicolás Maduro.”
In that context, he affirmed that "with everything that is happening, with the great possibility of Venezuela's reintegration into democracy, we need to create the conditions for them to return and to feel that this great country welcomes them."
Official reactions and legal debate
Following the approval of the amnesty, the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, defended the measure and stated: “One must know how to ask for forgiveness and also how to receive forgiveness. That is the process that begins with this amnesty law,” she publicly expressed after the parliamentary vote.
During the same debate, the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, acknowledged a “misuse” of the Law Against Hatred, a regulation pointed out by human rights organizations as a tool for political persecution, and indicated that it could be subject to reform.
Activists and NGOs have warned that the amnesty is exclusive and would leave many detainees out. According to data released by the Foro Penal, there are currently 644 political prisoners in the country, despite more than 400 releases recorded since January 8th.
Guanipa concluded his message with a political statement: “I am completely sure that we will soon achieve the definitive victory against the last dictatorship in our history. Long live a Free Venezuela!”
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