A surprising development in the Venezuelan scene
In a significant development on the Venezuelan political scene, President Nicolás Maduro's authorities released two prominent opposition figures on Sunday: Juan Pablo Guanipa and Perkins Rocha, legal advisor to opposition leader María Corina Machado. This release comes at a critical juncture, just before the anticipated passage of a historic amnesty law on Tuesday, raising questions about the implications of this move and its impact on the future of the country's ongoing political crisis.
Context of the crisis and international pressures
Venezuela has been experiencing a severe political and economic crisis for years, exacerbated by the controversial presidential elections of July 28, 2014, in which President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner of a new term, amid widespread accusations of systematic fraud from the opposition and the international community. This crisis has led to the arrest of hundreds of opposition activists and politicians, and the imposition of international sanctions, particularly by the United States, aimed at pressuring the Maduro government to return to a democratic path.
The release of Guanipa and Rocha comes as a result of ongoing negotiations and international pressure. On January 8, following intensive talks, the Venezuelan government promised to carry out a large-scale release of political prisoners, a key condition for easing US sanctions. This move is a test of the government's commitment to the agreements reached with the opposition through international mediation.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Domestically, the release of two such prominent figures represents a morale boost for the opposition, but it remains a cautious step. The two released dissidents emphasized that their freedom is not complete, as legal proceedings and restrictions remain in place. In his first statement after his release, Guanipa (61 years old) wrote on the X platform: “We emerge free after a year and a half, 10 months in hiding, and nearly 9 months detained here in Caracas.” He added, warningly: “These releases are not synonymous with complete and total freedom. As long as legal proceedings are open, and as long as restrictive measures, threats, or censorship remain, the persecution will continue.”.
For his part, Edmundo González Urrutia, the unified opposition candidate in the presidential elections, called for the immediate release of all political prisoners, stressing that partial freedom is insufficient. Internationally, Washington, Latin American countries, and Europe are closely monitoring this development to assess whether it represents a genuine start to political détente or merely a tactical maneuver by the Maduro regime to buy time and alleviate international pressure.
Details of the arrest and release
Perkins Rocha, 63, Machado’s legal advisor, had been imprisoned for over a year and a half, having been arrested on August 27, 2024, following Maduro’s re-election. His wife reported that he had returned home but was under “strict security measures.” Juan Pablo Guanipa had been in hiding for months before being arrested by authorities in May 2025 on multiple charges, including “electoral conspiracy,” “terrorism,” and “money laundering.”.
According to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, at least 18 people were released on Sunday, bringing the total number of those released for political reasons since January 8 to about 400, a figure that reflects the scale of the repression exercised by the authorities against their opponents in recent years.
