A close ally of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado, Guanipa had been held in a detention facility in the capital Caracas since his arrest in May 2025.

He had been accused by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello of leading a terrorist plot to sabotage?the legislative election that same month.

"Today, we are being released,"?Guanipa said in a video posted on X, standing with an armored vehicle and officers behind him.

"Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront," Guanipa said.?

Prisoner rights group Foro Penal said 18 people were released on Sunday and that it was verifying additional cases.

Machado’s political organization said some of its local political organizers as well as her attorney, Perkins Rocha, were among those freed.

"Let’s go for the freedom of Venezuela!"?she posted on X.

Machado also?posted photos of several of those released, pictured with?smiling family members.

"We will not rest until every single political prisoner is freed and until all of them return home," Machado said.

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez — who assumed the interim role following the US capture of Nicolas Maduro — has faced increasing pressure to release hundreds of?political prisoners.

Government denies holding people for their political beliefs, and says those held in prison have committed crimes.

Rodriguez's government announced on January 8 that it would free a significant number of prisoners, which had?been a key demand from Venezuela's opposition and human rights organizations, with the calls backed by the US.

However, the pace of releases has been criticised by rights watchdogs and the relatives of the prisoners.

Foro Penal previously confirmed that 383 political prisoners had been let go since the government's January announcement.

The government has not provided a list of how many prisoners will be released or provided specific information detailing who the prisoners to be released are.

Edited by: Karl Sexton