Martina Jaureguy The five Venezuelan opposition members who were living in the Argentine embassy in Caracas after seeking refuge there in March 2024 were safely transferred to the United States on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the “successful rescue of all hostages held by the Maduro regime at the Argentinian Embassy in Caracas.” He added that they are all now “safely on U.S. soil” following a “precise operation.”
“Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuela’s institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security,” Rubio said, describing the opposition members as “heroes.”
The five Venezuelans are part of the team of opposition leader María Corina Machado: campaign head Magalli Meda, communications coordinator Claudia Macero, former Deputy Omar González, campaign election coordinator Humberto Villalobos, and international relations campaign coordinator Pedro Urruchurtu Noselli.
The details of the release have not been made public, and it’s unclear whether there was a negotiation between governments or a military operation of some kind. Corina Machado’s representative in Argentina, Adriana López, told the Herald that there were “no agreements of any kind” between the Maduro and Trump administrations. She added that the specifics will be known once official sources release statements about it. The U.S. Embassy in Argentina said it had no more details to offer.
“Personally, it was a great relief, because they are my friends and they were the heart and brains of this epic campaign for freedom,” López said regarding the news of the release. She said that her five colleagues will continue working on the post-electoral campaign after they recover from the “poor conditions” they were living in, pointing to poor nutrition and insufficient water as the main issues they faced.
Despite winning the opposition primary, Machado was banned from running in the July 2024 presidential election. Edmundo González Urrutia ran in her place, with her endorsement. However, Maduro was declared the winner in a highly questioned vote count.
The group had arrived at the embassy on March 20, 2024, after Venezuelan General Prosecutor Tarek William Saab ordered arrest warrants against them. Former minister Fernando Martínez Mottola was also part of the group until he left the embassy in December. Martínez Mottola, who was terminally ill, reached a personal agreement with Saab that allowed him to spend his last days at home. He passed away on February 26.
The opposition members spent almost 14 months inside the embassy in what they called a “state of siege,” enduring constant surveillance and cuts to power and water supply in order to get them to leave the compound.
In August, Brazilian diplomats took charge of managing the Argentine embassy and protecting the Venezuelan refugees after Venezuela broke ties with Argentina, following Milei’s questioning of the election results. At the time, Venezuela refused to let the opposition members leave the country together with the Argentine diplomats.
Milei’s response
The rescue adds a new chapter to the close relationship Argentine President Javier Milei has with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The Argentine Presidential Office posted a statement on social media celebrating the operation. Milei especially thanked Rubio “for his personal commitment to the operation, which made it possible for these heroes to finally recover their freedom.”
The statement also mentioned efforts to free Argentine military police officer Nahuel Gallo, who was arrested on espionage charges at the border crossing with Colombia in December. His family has claimed that they don’t know where he is being held and in what conditions and that there is no evidence against him.
The Milei administration has stated Gallo’s freedom is a “priority” and that they “will not stop” until they achieve it.
Machado and González also celebrated the safe passage granted to the members of their team, calling it an “impeccable” and “epic” operation. “We will free each of our 900 heroes jailed by this tyranny, as well as the 30 million Venezuelans,” Machado wrote on X.
