The director for the Americas of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Juanita Goebertus, questioned this Monday the recent arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipapointing out that this fact shows the refusal of the Chavista government to allow the full exercise of political rights and a real democratic opening.
Goebertus stated that “the real test for the Venezuelan government is allowing the opposition to organize protests, engage in politics and participate in elections without reprisals.” In turn, he maintained that Guanipa’s capture, which occurred a few hours after his release, confirms that the Venezuelan authorities continue with a pattern of persecution of opposition leaders.
“The arrest of Juan Pablo Guanipa indicates that the Rodríguez brothers are only simulating a transition under Trump”, Goebertus said in a message spread on social networks, in which he also drew attention to the need to respect human rights and guarantee the integrity of political prisoners in Venezuela.
Guanipa’s arrest revives complaints about repression in Venezuela
The former deputy was released on Sunday after being detained since May 2025, accused of participating in an alleged conspiracy against the gubernatorial and parliamentary elections that year. After leaving prison, Guanipa participated in a caravan in defense of political prisoners and offered statements to the press, in which he asked for reconciliation with the truth and affirmed that Venezuela “has the right to be a free country.”
However, during the night, he was detained again by unidentified men who intercepted the vehicle in which he was traveling, despite the fact that, according to his son Ramón Guanipa, the precautionary measures previously imposed only included a ban on leaving the country and periodic appearances in court.
The Vente Venezuela party, led by the opposition María Corina Machado, reported that Guanipa is currently in a command of the Bolivarian National Police in Caracas. Meanwhile, his family reported not having received official information about his whereabouts and described the detention as “arbitrary and a violation of human rights.”
The new capture has generated concern among international human rights organizations and foreign governments, which demand transparency about the former deputy’s situation and guarantees for his safety. The international community is closely following this case, which reinforces complaints about the persistence of repressive practices against political leaders in Venezuela.
