Venezuela frees several opposition members after lengthy politically motivated detentions

Описание: (9 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

++CLIENTS NOTE: EDIT RESENT AT 1850GMT ON FEBRUARY 9 REMOVING SOURCE 'JUAN PABLO GUANIPA X ACCOUNT' FROM SOURCE FIELD++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Caracas, Venezuela - 8 February 2026
1. Various of Juan Pablo Guanipa, opposition leader, riding in a motorcycle and waving the Venezuelan flag after his release from prison
2. Guanipa walking with his supporters
3. Guanipa hugging a woman gathered during a vigil for all those currently still detained, UPSOUND (Spanish) "Free them all"
4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Pablo Guanipa, opposition leader released from prison:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"A single hour detained without having committed a crime is a profound injustice. What can be said of days, weeks, months, years being detained without having committed a crime. The only crime we have committed is to fight for the freedom, sovereignty, democracy of Venezuela. I want us all to to assume that this country has been saved, that Venezuela is moving forward, that we are going to succeed in developing our democracy."
5. People during vigil chanting, "They are all innocent, no one is a delinquent. Justice, Justice, Justice and Liberty."
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan Pablo Guanipa, opposition leader released from prison:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"It is extremely important that we get that freedom. That is why it is important that we achieve that liberation and that from there we can write a new history for Venezuela. A story where we can have the respect for the truth. Each time someone speaks to be about reconciliation, I say, I agree with reconciliation, but with the truth ahead. Let's take a look at what has happened in Venezuela over the last few months. Let's see why the decisions of the Venezuelan people have been violated, and that each time the Venezuelan people decide, their will is respected. Many are imprisoned there simply because they demanded respect of the will of the Venezuelan people."
7. People gathered in a vigil
8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jesús Armas, released from prison:
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
"What's important here is not the freedom of Juan Pablo Guanipa or the freedom of (inaudible) what matters is Venezuela's freedom, that each political prisoner are freed. And believe me Amnesty laws are enacted when political crimes need to be forgiven. But we are not criminals. We would only accept only if it meant that each and every political prisoner would be released in the next few hours."
9. Various of people gathered during vigil to celebrate the release of some prisoners and to demand the release of those other currently detained
STORYLINE:
Venezuela’s government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions.

Their releases come as the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez faces mounting pressure to free hundreds of people whose detentions months or years ago have been linked to their political beliefs.

They also follow a visit to Venezuela of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president after the Jan. 3 capture in Caracas of then-President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military. Her government began releasing prisoners days later.

“A single hour detained without having committed a crime is a profound injustice,” Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Machado ally and former governor said, speaking to supporters.




“Let’s go for the freedom of Venezuela!” Machado posted on X.






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