Claudia Macero (left), Pedro Uchurrurtu (center), and Magalli Meda, three of the five who have sought asylum at the Argentine embassy. Photograph: EFE / Henry Chirinos.
Guacamaya, May 10, 2025. The recent departure of five Venezuelan opposition figures from the Argentine embassy in Caracas has unleashed a wave of conflicting versions, which have generated debate in national and international public opinion. In this regard, it is necessary to provide a detailed account of what is known so far about one of the most discussed events in Venezuela’s current political context.
Last Tuesday, May 6, it was announced that Pedro Urruchurtu, Humberto Villalobos, Claudia Macero, Omar González, and Magalli Meda, all members of María Corina Machado’s political team, had left the Argentine embassy. The opposition had remained sheltered there for over a year due to alleged persecution by Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Initial unofficial versions suggest that the escape was achieved through safe-conduct passes granted as a result of negotiations. However, the incident generated political statements and diplomatic messages that refute this, a position that goes hand in hand with a widespread theory of international espionage. The truth is that beyond isolated statements, the Venezuelan government has largely remained in silence.
From rumors to confirmations: the first reactions
The news was initially released unofficially, and one of the first to announce it was Venezuelan journalist David Placer, based in Spain, through his social media. According to the journalist, the event was the result of negotiations involving representatives of Nicolás Maduro’s government, associates of María Corina Machado, and the participation of foreign governments.
However, US Senator Marco Rubio described the event on social media as a “successful rescue.” In addition to celebrating the release of the opposition members, she thanked the staff and partners who collaborated. María Corina Machado, opposition leader and political leader of the asylum seekers, also hailed the action, presenting it as an “impeccable and epic operation” and another commitment to political change.
Intelligence Theory and US Response
The Argentine newspaper Clarín and other media outlets insisted on the hypothesis of an intelligence operation, with CIA agents involved who took advantage of a surveillance breach to carry out the “rescue.” However, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed this version, saying “sounds like a movie,” although she also rejected the premise of negotiations.
Bruce was emphatic: “Of course, I’m not going to comment on gossip, speculation, or unbelievable stories, but at this point, those are stories.” Still, she noted that they will share more information about this event as soon as it becomes available. “What I can assure you is that these people are now out of danger, while we continue efforts to free more individuals,” he added.
On the other hand, Natalia Molano, another State Department spokesperson, denied that there had been any negotiations with the Venezuelan government and spoke of an “extraction” made possible thanks to cooperation with international allies. The State official emphasized that the release of the opposition members reflects the Donald Trump administration’s “commitment” to Venezuelans who are “fighting for freedom.”
What Argentina and Brazil have to say
The Argentine government, through an official statement, confirmed the “successful” release of the five opposition members and especially thanked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his “personal commitment” to the operation. The Javier Milei administration emphasized that the operation was carried out in coordination with the United States and reiterated its commitment to the protection of Venezuelan political prisoners.
For its part, the Brazilian government asserted that it had sought on multiple occasions and “at the highest level” to obtain the necessary safe passage for the asylum seekers, but that these efforts were ignored by the Venezuelan government. It should be noted that Brazil assumed the role of representing Argentina’s interests in Venezuela in August 2024, following the expulsion of the Argentine diplomatic corps.
Negotiation, Contradictions, and Silence: The Official Response
The most detailed official response came from Chavismo’s deputy, Diosdado Cabello, who, on his program “Con el Mazo Dando,” categorically denied the claim of a covert operation. Cabello maintained that the release was the result of diplomatic negotiations, which even included the exile of Corina Parisca de Machado, María Corina’s mother, who traveled to Bogotá on May 5.
Cabello insisted that it was not five but four opposition figures who left in this latest operation, after asserting that Claudia Macero had left the embassy on her own in August of last year. Macero’s departure reportedly occurred even before the “voluntary” departure of Fernando Martínez Mottola, who died on parole last February.
Later, on Friday, May 9, two days after his initial statements, Diosdado Cabello mentioned on his radio program “Sin Truco Ni Maña” (Without Trick or Craft) the arrest of a person linked to Claudia Macero’s departure. The Minister of the Interior, Justice, and Peace also stated that the alleged detainee was part of a gang of “coyotes” operating in Venezuela.
Despite this, Cabello argued that the departure of the opposition figures represented a relief for the Maduro government, since they were no longer responsible for their safety. Macero’s situation remains unclear, as various sources maintain that he left the embassy in December or August 2024, under circumstances that remain unclear.
Beyond Cabello’s statements, Nicolás Maduro’s government has not issued any official statement or offered details about how the opposition members left. There is no official information on whether safe-conduct passes were granted, whether there was direct international mediation, or whether there are any open investigations into those who facilitated the operation.
Raids on Meda and Villalobos’ Homes
Following the opposition members’ departure, the home of Magalli Meda, head of María Corina Machado’s national campaign command, was raided by Venezuelan security forces, according to Meda herself on social media. Meda accompanied the complaint with images obtained from surveillance devices that showed officials acting intimidatingly inside the property.
The persecution was not limited to her residence. On May 9, the home of Magalli Meda’s mother, located in the Miranda neighborhood of Caracas, was also raided by government agents, according to the opposition leader’s complaints. Meda called the incident a “crime” and requested public support to protect her family. She also reported the theft of her mother’s vehicle during these events.
Magalli Meda’s husband, Jorge Olavarría, also posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) denouncing the harassment and blaming the Maduro government for the reprisals against his family. Olavarría accused Diosdado Cabello, Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace, of plotting his wife’s murder, which prompted her to flee the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
In addition to the raid on Magalli Meda and her family, this Saturday, May 10, a raid was reported on the home of Humberto Villalobos, electoral coordinator of Vente Venezuela and another of the five exiled opposition figures. According to reports, a group of hooded and armed officers from the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) stormed the “El Samán” building in Baruta, where Villalobos resided.
The departure of the five Venezuelan opposition figures from the Argentine embassy in Caracas remains shrouded in uncertainty, with conflicting versions of events and a lack of clear official information. While the opposition and parts of the international press insist on the narrative of a rescue operation with espionage overtones, the Chavistas speak of a diplomatic negotiation spearheaded by María Corina Machado.
The series of raids on the homes of members and relatives of the five exiles reflects an escalation of actions by Venezuelan authorities following the departure of the opposition members. In this context, the only certainty is the complexity and opacity of the events, amid an environment of political tension and social challenges that continue to characterize the current situation in Venezuela.
