By Zoila Palma: Venezuelan authorities have placed Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close ally of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, under house arrest just hours after his release from prison, AFP reports.
Guanipa, a former vice president of the National Assembly, had been freed Sunday after more than 8 months in detention on charges often brought against government critics, including terrorism, money laundering and inciting violence.
His release came alongside other political prisoners under a promise made by interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power after Nicolas Maduro was toppled in a deadly US military raid in January.
During his brief period of freedom, the 61-year-old met with relatives of other detainees, toured Caracas in a motorcycle caravan, chanted slogans outside the Helicoide prison and called for new elections.
He was later taken back into custody, with prosecutors alleging he had violated parole conditions.
Machado denounced the move as a “kidnapping,” while a US congresswoman warned of “grave consequences” if any harm came to him. On Tuesday, Guanipa’s son Ramon announced on X that his father had been transferred to house arrest in Maracaibo, insisting that “house arrest is still imprisonment” and calling for the release of all political prisoners.
Guanipa’s re-arrest comes as Venezuela’s unicameral parliament prepares to debate an amnesty bill for political prisoners and officials involved in jailing them during 27 years of rule under Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez.
The post International News: Venezuelan Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa placed under house arrest after brief release appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Venezuelan authorities have placed Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close ally of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, under house arrest just hours after his release from prison, AFP reports. Guanipa, a former vice president of the National Assembly, had been freed Sunday after more than 8 months in detention on charges often brought
The post International News: Venezuelan Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa placed under house arrest after brief release appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
