Venezuela returns jailed opposition leader to house arrest

Venezuelan state security agents returned jailed opposition leader Antonio Ledezma to house arrest, his wife said in a Twitter post Friday.

“Several minutes ago, Antonio was unexpectedly returned by SEBIN to our home,” his wife, Mitzy Capriles, wrote on Ledezma’s Twitter account, referring to the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service. “We thank the people of Venezuela and the international community for their concern and solidarity.”

Ledezma and Leopoldo López, Venezuela’s most high-profile political prisoner, were taken in predawn raids Tuesday, accused of violating the terms of their respective house arrests by making public statements against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Both had backed protests against the election Sunday of a new legislative body with nearly unfettered power. The new constituent assembly, packed with members of Maduro’s ruling socialist party, is scheduled to be installed Friday.

There were no indications early Friday that López might also be released. His wife, Lilian Tintori, wrote on Twitter on Thursday that neither she nor López’s attorneys had been able to reach him in the 58 hours since he’d been seized from home.

One of Ledezma’s daughters, Oriette Schadendorf Capriles, told reporters Friday morning that her father had been held in solitary confinement at the Ramo Verde military prison. At no point was he told why he was jailed or taken back home.

“No one explained the reason behind either transfer,” she said. “He’s OK, thank God.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2017 at 8:38 AM with the headline "Venezuela returns jailed opposition leader to house arrest."