Javier Milei spoke after the release of Nahuel Gallo: “It was a tragedy that our gendarme was kidnapped”

President Javier Milei publicly referred to the release of Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo, who was detained in Venezuela for 448 days, and stressed that the fundamental thing is his return to the country and his reunion with his family.

After opening the regular session at the Congress, Milei said in a dialogue with La Nación Más: “It was a tragedy that our gendarme Nahuel Gallo was kidnapped. If you return for whatever reason, either thanks to the management of the United States and Italy or thanks to the vehicle made available by another person or whatever, welcome. The important thing here is that Nahuel Gallo is with us again”.

Liberation after 448 days in detention in Venezuela

Gallo was released after being held in the prison of El Rodeo I, in Caracas, since December 8, 2024. For more than a year he had no communication with his family and his situation generated diplomatic complaints and

international concern.

His arrest occurred when he entered Venezuelan territory, where he was accused by the Chavista regime of “terrorism and espionage”, charges that his environment described as unfounded. Since then, the case became a point of tension between Argentina and Venezuela.

The release took place within the framework of a process promoted by the Venezuelan regime through an amnesty law applied to political prisoners

and foreign detainees.

The message from his wife and the expected reunion

The news was confirmed by his wife, María Alexandra Gómez, through social networks: “I just spoke with Nahuel Gallo and I can inform you that he is already flying to Argentina. We are deeply moved. Víctor will be able to hug his dad in a few hours

.”

Days before, Gómez had received an unexpected call from Venezuela while giving a radio interview. It was Gallo, who was able to communicate for the first time after 445 days of incommunication. “After 445 days my soul returned to my body. Nahuel called me; he called to tell me that he was still going strong,” he

said.

This communication was possible after several foreign detainees began a hunger strike to demand the application of the amnesty law.

The measure put pressure on the regime to make conditions of detention more flexible and allow contacts with family members.

The arrest and the international complaint

The Nightmare began when Gallo tried to cross the border between Venezuela and Colombia to visit his family. According to his relatives, he had left Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, and was detained at a migratory post without his whereabouts being officially reported for months

.

Since then, the Argentine Government has made diplomatic efforts and complaints to international organizations to demand their release

.

In the last few hours before his departure, a video released by media showed inmates from El Rodeo I shouting with family members.

In one of these exchanges, the phrase was heard: “Half an hour ago, they released the Argentinian”, which anticipated the outcome.

With the return of Nahuel Gallo to the country, a chapter of strong diplomatic tension and family anguish comes to an end.

The President stressed that, beyond the efforts and channels used, the main thing is that the Argentine gendarme returned home after more than a year of detention.