What Happened Last Week In Venezuela? ⛓️ Guanipa Liberated and Captured Again
High-profile political prisoners are released, the National Assembly pre-approves the Amnesty Law, Rodríguez appoints a representative in Washington, and sanctions continue to ease.
Politics
A wave of releases frees almost all high-profile opposition prisoners, but Guanipa is arrested again
On Sunday, a new wave of releases of some thirty opposition figures and activists —including leaders linked to Vente Venezuela and the circle of María Corina Machado— led to mobilizations in front of detention centers and, within hours, to a new complaint of irregular detention against opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, one of those released this weekend.
On Sunday, several high-profile figures were released, including Guanipa, lawyer Perkins Rocha, former councilman Jesús Armas, and leaders associated with Vente Venezuela and Comando Con Venezuela, among them María Oropeza, Henry Alviarez, and Dignora Hernández. The NGO Foro Penal indicated that an additional group of releases occurred on February 8, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since January 8 to approximately 383.
This round of releases represents the release of almost all high-profile detainees –with a few exceptions such as Freddy Superlano, who remains in prison– although hundreds of lesser-known people are still imprisoned for political reasons.
However, in the early hours of Monday, family members and allies reported that Guanipa was intercepted in Caracas by unidentified armed men and forcibly taken away, just hours after his release from prison. Simultaneously, the Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that it had requested the court to impose house arrest on him, alleging violations of the conditions of his release. However, Guanipa’s precautionary measures only included prohibition of leaving the country and regime of presentation every 30 days. The Attorney General’s Office revoked the original release and ordered that Guanipa be placed under house arrest following the mobilization and celebrations sparked by his release.
While releases were taking place and the controversy surrounding Guanipa’s situation was growing, relatives of detainees held vigils around El Helicoide and other detention centers. At a rally on February 1st—which included recently released former political prisoners —activist Javier Tarazona told the media, “For this reunion, we need injustice to end,” as he stood alongside relatives demanding the release of those still detained.
Unlike previous episodes, several of those released from prison reappeared publicly and joined marches and rallies to demand the total release of political prisoners, in a context where human rights organizations and the opposition warn that hundreds of people remain detained for political reasons.
The National Assembly approves the Amnesty Law in its first reading; the opposition and civil society consider it deficient
The National Assembly (AN) unanimously approved on Thursday, in its first reading, the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence, which, according to its explanatory statement, seeks to establish “a comprehensive amnesty framework” with an express delimitation of the acts and crimes covered, as well as those that “according to the Constitution must be excluded”, with the declared objective of leaving behind “revenge, revenge or hatred” and opening “a path towards reconciliation”.
During the debate, the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, said: “We ask for forgiveness and we must also forgive,” and added: “We ask for forgiveness because, let me be clear, I don’t like prisoners.”
The session also featured an unusual moment when, after the intervention of non-Chavista lawmaker David Uzcátegui, Rodríguez sarcastically suggested that the legislators “do a little cardio by applauding the deputies who speak,” since not everyone had applauded the speech. Uzcátegui had stated that “amnesty means forgetting past grievances, so that we may remember our shared purpose.”
The draft that began circulating after the vote sets a broad timeframe —from 1999 until the end of January 2026— and includes provisions to benefit those prosecuted or convicted for cases linked to protests and political crimes, with exclusions for serious crimes such as severe human rights violations, corruption and drug trafficking.
However, the initiative faces criticism from the opposition and human rights organizations, who argue that, despite being presented as “general and comprehensive,” its application would be tied to a list of 10 specific episodes of political upheaval. This could leave out arrests that occurred outside of these frameworks—including cases prosecuted under instruments such as the Law Against Hatred—and other situations not explicitly mentioned, such as the lifting of political disqualifications or the return of exiles.
Following the approval in the first discussion, and breaking with the usual dynamics of the Parliament dominated by Chavismo, the Assembly invited human rights organizations and watchdogs such as Foro Penal, Provea and Acceso a la Justicia, among others, to technical meetings about the project.
The project still needs to pass the second discussion —article by article— and the final vote before its eventual enactment and entry into force.
Delcy Rodríguez appoints Félix Plasencia as diplomatic representative in Washington
Delcy Rodríguez appointed former Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia as Venezuela’s diplomatic representative in Washington, amid renewed bilateral relations following a meeting in Caracas with the new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Laura Dogu, Reuters reported. Plasencia, a career diplomat with prior experience at the Foreign Ministry, has been assigned the complex mission of managing the rapprochement with the U.S. after seven years of formally severed relations.
The National Assembly opens consultation with law school deans for the 2026–2027 legislative agenda
The National Assembly has begun a round of consultations with deans of law and political science faculties at universities across the country, with the aim of incorporating academic input into the 2026–2027 legislative agenda. This agenda includes reforms to codes and laws related to the justice system, constitutional protection (amparo), and civil and criminal procedures. However, some observers have pointed out that these meetings could be used to evaluate potential candidates for restructuring the composition of certain public institutions.
Machado does not rule out meeting with Delcy Rodríguez, but conditions any dialogue on June 28th; he sees elections as “relatively soon”
Opposition leader María Corina Machado stated in an interview with Caracol Radio that she does not rule out a meeting with Delcy Rodríguez “if necessary” to exchange ideas and “define a transition timeline,” although she reiterated that any process must begin with “recognition of the July 28, 2024, transition” and be geared toward a genuine transition. In a parallel interview with the US media outlet Politico, Machado maintained that a “real” electoral process, with manual voting, could be organized in nine to ten months, depending on when it begins, which—according to her argument—would allow for elections “relatively soon” if powers are renewed and guarantees are in place.
DW correspondent Álvaro Algarra denounced for arrest and subsequent release
The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) reported that journalist Álvaro Algarra, Deutsche Welle’s (DW) Spanish-language correspondent, was detained by alleged police officers after being searched at his residence in Caracas. Hours later, the SNTP and the National College of Journalists reported that he had been released and was in good health. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that the arrest occurred without a warrant or official explanation.
Economy
US license authorizes sale of diluents to Venezuela to revive crude oil exports
The U.S. Treasury Department issued a new general license authorizing the export, sale, and supply of U.S.-made diluents to Venezuela, a key input for blending extra-heavy crude oil to make it transportable and exportable. The measure—formalized as Venezuela General License 47—is part of a recent package of sanctions relief measures for the oil sector and also allows for the processing of payments from the Venezuelan government related to these authorized transactions.
Reuters: US prepares blanket license for companies to produce oil and gas in Venezuela
The U.S. government is working to issue a general license “as early as this week” that would allow companies to produce oil and gas in Venezuela, as part of the Trump administration’s shift toward easing sanctions and pushing for a recovery in the energy sector, according to sources cited by Reuters. Bloomberg reported that the measure seeks to facilitate broader operations than the current piecemeal authorizations, amid a reorganization of Venezuelan oil trade under U.S. supervision. Previously, the United States issued a license allowing companies to buy and sell Venezuelan crude.
Oil exports rebound to ~800,000 bpd in January under US licensing controls
Venezuelan crude and refined product exports rose in January to around 800,000 barrels per day, up from 498,000 bpd in December, according to shipping data cited by Reuters. The surge followed the issuance of licenses to trading companies such as Vitol and Trafigura and an increase in shipments to the U.S. (284,000 bpd), while shipments to China fell and Cuba received no shipments that month, according to the same source.
US extends Citgo’s protection from creditors until March 20
The U.S. Treasury Department extended the license protecting Citgo Petroleum —a Houston-based refiner owned by Venezuela—from creditor action until March 20, 2026. The extension maintains a regulatory “shield” that conditions any progress in the legal process and the auction linked to the dispute over PDV Holding, which requires OFAC authorization.
Tanker linked to shipments to Cuba finishes loading gasoline in Venezuela
A tanker that has been transporting Venezuelan fuel to Cuba since April 2025 finished loading a 150,000-barrel shipment of gasoline this week, according to a shipping schedule reviewed by Reuters. The operation was interpreted as a sign that shipments to the island could resume or be prepared “under U.S. supervision,” amid the new licensing and export control system. The United States had previously pressured Venezuela not to export crude oil to Cuba, in a political maneuver regarding the island’s future, whose electricity crisis has worsened significantly in recent weeks following cuts in oil shipments.
Indian company Reliance buys 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude through Vitol
Indian company Reliance Industries acquired 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude from trader Vitol —its first such transaction in nearly a year—with delivery expected in April, Reuters reported, citing traders. The shipment was agreed upon at a discount of approximately $6.50 to $7 per barrel compared to Brent crude, at a time when US licenses have revived sales to new destinations amid declining Chinese purchases.
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