CARACAS, WASHINGTON – Five prominent Venezuelan opposition figures who had been in hiding for over a year at the Argentine embassy in Caracas have been safely evacuated and are now on U.S. soil, according to statements released today by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

The individuals sought refuge in the embassy out of fear of political persecution under the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. Their release comes after what officials described as “high-level negotiations.” International news outlet Telesur confirmed that talks took place between the Maduro government and foreign parties to secure the safe passage of the opposition members. 

Veteran journalist Vladímir Villegas wrote on social media platform X that “there was without a doubt a negotiation process involved.” 

So far, there has been no official response from Nicolás Maduro or the Venezuelan government regarding the release or the terms of the alleged negotiations. 

The incident underscores the deepening political tensions in Venezuela and highlights ongoing international efforts to mediate between the opposition and Maduro’s government ahead of upcoming elections. The identities of the freed opposition members have not yet been disclosed.