In brief
Ramón Guanipa, the son of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, cautioned President Trump not to be misled by the government's claims about releasing political prisoners. Although the Venezuelan administration announced intentions to release thousands, only a small fraction has been confirmed. While Trump has applauded these actions, Guanipa underlined the need for continued pressure on the regime as many families wait in desperation for their loved ones’ freedom.
Ramón Guanipa, the son of Juan Pablo Guanipa, said he believed the US president was unaware that only about 40 releases out of more than 800 political prisoners had reportedly been confirmed so far.
On Saturday, Trump thanked the Venezuelan authorities, saying they had started the process, in a BIG WAY.
The Venezuelan government announced on Thursday it would release detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups as a goodwill gesture.
The move came after the US seized Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on the capital, Caracas, on 3 January, and took him to New York, where he has been charged with drug trafficking.
Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela's National Assembly leader and the brother of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, announced that an important number of Venezuelan and foreign detainees would be released immediately.
On Monday, the government said more than 100 such prisoners had already been released - a number far greater than the figure so far confirmed by human rights campaigners.
Among those who are confirmed to have been released are several high-profile opposition figures - with Spain's foreign ministry confirming that five Spanish citizens had been freed, including human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel.
Trump claimed credit for the releases, writing on social media on Saturday: I hope these prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.
But relatives of those still behind bars have been expressing their frustration that only a small number of prisoners have been freed.
Ramón Guanipa, whose father is a close ally of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, told BBC Mundo: I want to tell President Trump that he must not be fooled and [should] keep pressure on these guys.
He added: I want to thank President Trump for the pressure that he's been enforcing. He's been our greatest ally in this situation. However, pointing to the small number of people released so far, Guanipa warned Trump that if he thinks this is going alright, it is not.
Juan Pablo Guanipa went into hiding after being accused of terrorism and treason for challenging the result of the 2024 presidential election. That vote was lacked basic transparency and integrity, according to the UN, and was denounced as rigged by the US which did not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
For his comments, Juan Pablo Guanipa was tracked down by Venezuelan security forces and detained in May 2025. Ramón Guanipa says he has only been allowed to visit his father once since the older man was arrested.
