From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 9, 2026
Venezuela frees several opposition figures from prison
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CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s government releases from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria 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.
“Today, we are being released,” Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Machado ally and former governor, says in a video posted on X. “Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront.”
Guanipa, who spent more than eight months in custody, is released from a detention facility in the capital, Caracas. An armored vehicle and officers appear behind him in the video he released.
Venezuelan-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal confirms the release of at least 30 people on yesterday.
In addition to Guanipa, Machado’s political organization says several of its members were among the released, including Maria Oropeza, who livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers as they broke into her home with a crowbar. Machado’s attorney, Perkins Rocha, is also freed.
“Let’s go for the freedom of Venezuela!” Machado posts on X.
Guanipa was detained in late May and accused by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello of participating in an alleged “terrorist group” plotting to boycott that month’s legislative election. Guanipa’s brother Tomás rejected the accusation and said that the arrest was meant to crack down on dissent.
The Times of Israel Community.