Venezuela’s top prosecutor orders the arrest of opposition leader’s ally, hours after his release

Venezuela's prosecutor orders the arrest of opposition leader's ally, Juan Pablo Guanipa, hours after his release from detention.

Venezuela’s top prosecutor said on Monday (February 9, 2026) that his office had requested the arrest of one of the closest allies of opposition leader María Corina Machado, less than 12 hours after his release from a detention facility as part of a government move to free those facing politically motivated accusations.

The attorney general’s statement did not say whether Juan Pablo Guanipa was rearrested or give an indication of his whereabouts. The government had released him along with several other prominent opposition members on Sunday (February 8) following lengthy politically motivated detentions.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab’s office posted on social media that it had “requested the competent court to revoke the precautionary measure granted to Mr. Guanipa, due to his non-compliance with the conditions imposed by the aforementioned court.”

It did not elaborate on what conditions Mr. Guanipa, a former governor for the opposition, violated during the hours he was free, but said authorities were seeking house arrest.

Mr. Guanipa’s son, Ramón, told reporters Monday (February 9) that authorities have not yet notified him of his father’s whereabouts and their decision to place him on house arrest. He said his father did not violate the two conditions of his release — monthly check-ins with a court and no travel outside Venezuela — and showed reporters the court document listing them.

Earlier on Monday (February 9), Ms. Machado announced Mr. Guanipa had been “kidnapped” by “heavily armed men, dressed in civilian clothes” who “arrived in four vehicles and violently took him away” in a neighbourhood in the capital, Caracas.