Venezuela releases Italian-venezuela businessman arrested in August 2024

Athe Venezuelan authorities announced today the release of the Italian-venezuela businessman Daniel Enrique Echenagucia, who had been detained since August 2024, applying precautionary measures replacing the preventive imprisonment.

The announcement was made by the Program for Democratic Coexistence and Peace, in a statement issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Oliver Blanco, indicating that he recommended to the competent bodies of the Criminal Justice System the adoption of these measures “in the context of initiatives aimed at promoting national reconciliation and peaceful coexistence”.

The note states that the recommendation was received by the Venezuelan courts under Article 242 of the Criminal Organic Code, “having its release entered into force on 14 November”.

Article 242 provides for the submission to the care or supervision of a determined person or institution, keeping the judicial proceedings open and usually imposing restrictions such as periodic presentations in court or prohibition of leaving the country without authorization.

“ This measure reaffirms the commitment of President Delcy Rodríguez to promote dialogue, national reconciliation, democratic coexistence and peace, in strict attachment to the Venezuelan legal system ", reads in the statement.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed through social media that Daniel Enrique Echenagucia was received at the Italian Consulate General in Caracas and should leave Venezuela shortly, classifying liberation as “a step forward in the process of democratic transition” in the country.

For its part, in a statement, the Venezuelan opposition demanded the “full and unconditional freedom” of the entrepreneur and the others arrested for political reasons, since the measure applied does not terminate the judicial process.

Daniel Enrique Echenagucia, of dual nationality, was detained for more than 27 months in the prison of El Rodeo I, after being intercepted without a warrant on August 2, 2024, in the context of the post-election crisis, on charges of treason to the homeland, conspiracy and criminal association.

During seclusion, human rights organizations, such as the Criminal Court, warned of the serious worsening of their state of health, leading the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to grant them precautionary measures in June this year.

The release takes place during a new cycle of talks between the executive, led by Delcy Rodríguez since January 2026, and representatives of the opposition in Caracas.

Meanwhile, the non-governmental organization Criminal Court (FP), known for defending the political prisoners in Venezuela for free, confirmed the release of Daniel Enrique Echenagucia, through social networks.

The latest data released by FP show that on November 9, 321 people were detained in Venezuela for political reasons.

Of the total number of detainees, all adults, 306 are men and 15 women, of whom 181 are civilians and 140 are military.

Among them are 31 foreigners or citizens with dual nationality, of which, according to sources of the local Portuguese community, are four Portuguese-venezuelans, one of them in house arrest.

The FP is unaware of the whereabouts of one of the political prisoners.

The organisation stresses, however, that the number of detainees is an estimate, since there are other cases under review and does not yet include subsequent updates to day 09, namely the release of Daniel Enrique Echenagucia today.