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Venezuela Opposition Ally Arrested Hours After Release

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Venezuela's top prosecutor ordered the arrest of Juan Pablo Guanipa, a key ally of opposition leader María Corina Machado, less than 12 hours after his release from detention. The attorney general's office requested a court revoke Guanipa's precautionary measures, citing alleged non-compliance with release conditions. Guanipa had been freed alongside several other prominent opposition figures as part of a government initiative to release politically motivated detainees.

Guanipa's son reported that armed men in civilian clothes intercepted his father around 11:45 p.m. Sunday in Caracas, though authorities have not disclosed his current location. The opposition figure had spent over eight months in custody at El Helicoide, Venezuela's intelligence headquarters and detention center. His release came amid mounting pressure following the U.S. military's seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3rd on federal drug trafficking charges.

The arrests and releases highlight the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela under acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The government has begun releasing hundreds of prisoners detained for political activities, though rights groups criticize the slow pace. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced that all remaining detainees would be freed by next week once an amnesty bill is approved, while the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has offered support for dialogue and reconciliation efforts in the country.

Quick Fact: Guanipa had spent more than eight months in custody at a facility in Caracas.