Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa arrested amid election tensions
The Nicolás Maduro regime arrested opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa — a close ally of opposition figure María Corina Machado — early Friday morning, accusing him of orchestrating a terrorist network allegedly planning to sabotage regional elections scheduled for Sunday.
Maduro's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the arrest in a televised address on Venezolana de Televisión. 'We are dismantling a terrorist and conspiracy network against our country, the elections, and the peace of our people,' Cabello said.
Guanipa was detained as part of a broader operation that, according to Cabello, has led to the arrest of 38 individuals, including 21 Venezuelans and 17 foreigners. Authorities allege the group was involved in plotting attacks on infrastructure such as gas stations, hospitals, and transportation and power systems.
Cabello credited the arrest to community tips and cooperation among civilians, police and the military. 'We have captured one of the leaders of this powerful and shadowy terrorist group,' he said.
Among items reportedly seized were agendas, electronic devices and documents allegedly linking Guanipa to international funding and plans for violence. Officials also referenced supposed efforts to boycott the elections, backed by foreign actors and criminal networks.
However, the government has yet to present public evidence supporting the accusations. Independent access to the detainees or their legal counsel has not been granted.
In a prerecorded video released by the opposition after his arrest, Guanipa stated that he might be 'unjustly imprisoned, but never defeated.'
'Brothers and sisters, if you are seeing this, it is because I have been kidnapped by the forces of Nicolás Maduro's regime,' Guanipa said. 'For months, I, like many Venezuelans, have been in hiding to maintain my safety. Regrettably, my time in hiding has come to an end. As of today, I am part of the list of Venezuelans kidnapped by the dictatorship.'
Guanipa, the former first vice president of the National Assembly (AN, Parliament), is, along with Machado, a key figure defending Edmundo González Urrutia's claimed victory in the presidential elections of July 28, 2024.
According to recent polls, nine out of 10 Venezuelans believed that González won the election, obtaining twice as many votes as Maduro. This opinion is shared by several countries, including the United States.
Venezuelans are scheduled to elect governors and new Congress officials this Sunday, but most polls predict a very low turnout due to a lack of faith in the regime's electoral system.
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