Among those released are two Italo-Venezuelan citizens, including former Deputy Américo De Grazia, as well as three opposition mayors and former officials from their administrations. Image: ElTiempoVE
Guacamaya, August 24, 2025. In the early hours of Sunday, the release of 13 individuals detained for political reasons was confirmed, following an order from the Executive branch. The news was simultaneously announced by opposition leaders Henrique Capriles and Tomás Guanipa via their social media accounts, who hailed the move as a step forward for humanism and democracy.
Of the 13 released, eight were granted full freedom: Víctor Jurado, Simón Vargas, Arelis Ojeda Escalante, Mayra Castro, Diana Berrío, Margarita Assenza, Gorka Carnevali, and former deputy Américo De Grazia. Meanwhile, Nabil Maalouf, Valentín Gutiérrez Pineda, Rafael Ramírez, Pedro Guanipa, and David Barroso were placed under house arrest.
“Let there be no doubt: we will keep fighting for a country where no one is behind bars for their beliefs. We’ve always said it and we stand by it—we’ll talk to whoever we need to talk to so that not a single political prisoner remains in our Venezuela,” Capriles stated in the message announcing the releases.
Tomás Guanipa, brother of one of the released and of another still-detained leader, Juan Pablo Guanipa, celebrated the reunion and reaffirmed his commitment to securing further releases. “Today we celebrate the freedom of lifelong brothers. This year has been painful for everyone. Being a relative of a political prisoner is another form of imprisonment. Life changes. The uncertainty and anguish are constant,” he said.
The release comes just two days after Capriles, representing the opposition platform “Venezuela Is the Reason,” issued a statement firmly rejecting any show of force against Venezuela amid the growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. Capriles emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty as a sacred value and called for dialogue and negotiation.
Among the particularities of those released, the list includes two citizens with Italian nationality—Américo De Grazia and Margarita Assenza—drawing attention to possible diplomatic efforts behind their release. Also included are former mayors Rafael Ramírez (Maracaibo, Zulia), Simón Vargas (Bolívar, Táchira), and Nabil Maalouf (Cabimas, Zulia), who had been detained on alleged corruption charges during their terms.
The release of these 13 opposition figures is being celebrated as a partial victory, though it also underscores the fact that many individuals still remain imprisoned for political reasons. International tensions frame the context, and reactions to Capriles’ statement were varied—highlighting the ongoing polarization within Venezuela’s political landscape.
