Feb 9 • 05:20 UTC 🇱🇹 Lithuania 15min

Venezuelan opposition leader: armed men kidnapped a colleague recently released from prison

Maria Corina Machado announced that armed men kidnapped her opposition colleague Juan Pablo Guanipa shortly after his release from prison in Caracas.

Maria Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, reported a disturbing incident in Caracas where her colleague Juan Pablo Guanipa was kidnapped shortly after being released from prison. Armed men, dressed in civilian clothing, arrived in four vehicles and forcibly took Guanipa, prompting an urgent call for his immediate release. This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of political figures in Venezuela, particularly those opposing the current regime.

The abduction of Guanipa underscores the ongoing tensions between the Venezuelan government and opposition leaders, who have faced increasing threats and violence. The Venezuelan opposition has long struggled against the autocratic rule of President Nicolás Maduro, and such incidents highlight the precarious situation for those involved in political dissent. The international community is watching closely as this situation develops, given the history of human rights abuses in the country.

Machado's use of social media to communicate the kidnapping reflects the current state of political activism in Venezuela, where traditional media outlets may be less reliable for reporting such events. The implications of this kidnapping could reverberate through the opposition movement, possibly motivating further action, but also instilling fear among opposition members. The demand for Guanipa's release signals a rallying point for the opposition, but also a stark reminder of the risks they face in their fight against authoritarianism.

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