Opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa gathered with supporters and relatives near the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas on Sunday (February 8) after being released from prison, along with more than 30 other Venezuelan politicians.

Guanipa, who was set free on Sunday, called for truth as the basis for reconciliation in the country, and demanded the release of all "political prisoners," during a vigil with relatives of prisoners near the infamous Helicoide, a detention center rights groups have long denounced as the site of prisoner abuse.

Alfredo Romero, president of the non-governmental organization Foro Penal, said in a post on X that they had confirmed "35 releases" and were continuing to verify more.

Guanipa is a close ally of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and was arrested in May 2025 after months in hiding for allegedly leading a terrorist plot. His family and the political movement have categorically denied the accusations.

Foro Penal has reported at least 383 releases of political prisoners from January 8 to February 5, amid releases announced by the government.

The government denies holding political prisoners and says those who are incarcerated have committed crimes. The authorities have reported a much higher number of releases—nearly 900—but have not been clear about the timeline and appear to be including releases from previous years in their count.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ARACAS, VENEZUELA (FEBRUARY 8, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. POLITICIAN RELEASED FROM PRISON, JUAN PABLO GUANIPA, ARRIVING NEAR EL HELICOIDE PRISON

2. GUANIPA GREETING RELATIVES OF PRISONERS

3. SUPPORTERS CHANTING (Spanish): “Free them all”

4. GUANIPA

5. GUANIPA DURING SPEECHES

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FREED OPPOSITION POLITICIAN, JUAN PABLO GUANIPA, SAYING:

"We want reconciliation, but reconciliation with the truth up front. Let's review what happened on July 28, 2024 (ed’s note: referring to the latest presidential elections) in Venezuela. Let's review what has happened in all these years in our country—where respect for the will and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people has been. And from there, let's establish a new political process in Venezuela where the rules of the game are respected, where whoever does not respect the rules faces the corresponding sanction, and where the will and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people are respected, which without a doubt are quite clear at this moment."

7. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA GREETING SUPPORTERS

8. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA SENDING MESSAGE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FREED OPPOSITION POLITICIAN, JUAN PABLO GUANIPA, SAYING:

"Our call, our demand is for the freedom of all political prisoners—that everyone be free, that everyone be with their family, that everyone see their children grow up, that everyone be accompanied by their wives and husbands, that everyone have the chance to enjoy this great country called Venezuela."

10. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA HUGGING SUPPORTER

11. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA WALKING AND GREETING SUPPORTERS

12. (NIGHT SHOT) VARIOUS OF GUANIPA ON MOTORCYCLE

13. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA SENDING MESSAGE

14. (NIGHT SHOT) MOTORCYCLE CONVOY

15. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA ON MOTORCYCLE

16. (NIGHT SHOT) GUANIPA WAVING VENEZUELAN FLAG ON MOTORCYCLE

17. (NIGHT SHOT) VENEZUELAN WAVING FLAG FROM VEHICLE AND CHANTING (Spanish): “Freedom”