Venezuelan refugees at the Argentine Embassy were released from the country by the US.

In a turn marking a turning point in the  Venezuelan political tension, five members of María Corina Machado's team, asylum seekers in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas for more than a year,  finally managed  to leave the country in a discreet operation involving international mediation that has not yet been officially recognized by Nicolás Maduro's regime.

The protagonists of this operation are Magalli Meda, Pedro Urruchurtu, Omar González, Humberto Villalobos, and Claudia Macero, who for more than a year  endured inhumane conditions  inside the diplomatic headquarters, without regular access to electricity or running water, services that, according to reports, were deliberately restricted by the Chavista government. They repeatedly reported being harassed  by snipers and police patrols surrounding the embassy, a symbol of the diplomatic closure Venezuela keeps with Argentina since Javier Milei's government broke relations with the authoritarianism  of the Bolivarian regime.

The exit operation, described by Venezuelan journalist David Placer as a  "staggered extraction", began several days ago and was recently completed with the departure of the last of the five opposition members. "Not everyone left at the same time. It was an operation that escalated. Some have been out of the country for days. The collaboration of other foreign governments has been key", stated Placer from his YouTube channel.

According to the disclosed information, one of the exiles is already in Spain and another in Portugal. Although the Comando Con Vzla —the support platform for María Corina Machado— has not yet issued an official statement, everything points to this liberation being the result of a complex international negotiation in which the United States and Spain were involved, possibly with the mediation of former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

On Tuesday night, unofficial sources indicated that Maduro's regime granted safe-conducts to the asylum seekers, allowing them to leave the country. This is a remarkable concession from a government that last April rejected a proposal from El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, who offered to release 252 Venezuelans imprisoned in his country in exchange for the same number of political prisoners in Venezuela, including the five refugees in the Argentine embassy. Maduro's refusal once again highlighted the regime's disdain for any attempt at democratic reconciliation.

This escape occurs in a context of increasing international pressure for the release of Venezuelan political prisoners, including the Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo, detained in El Rodeo I prison and accused of planning an attack against the regime. Argentina, under the current administration, has repeatedly demanded his release. 

The most forceful confirmation came from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who celebrated the outcome from his official account on the social network X:

"The United States celebrates the successful rescue of all hostages held by Maduro's regime in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas. After a precise operation, all hostages are now safe on U.S. soil. Maduro's illegitimate regime has undermined Venezuelan institutions, violated human rights, and endangered our regional security. We extend our gratitude to all personnel involved in this operation and to our partners who contributed to the safe release of these Venezuelan heroes."

Minutes later, María Corina Machado  replied forcefully, making it clear that this victory is just the beginning:

"An impeccable and epic operation for the Freedom of five heroes of Venezuela.
My infinite recognition and gratitude to all who made it possible.
We will free each of our 900 heroes imprisoned by this tyranny and 30 MILLION VENEZUELANS!
And with Freedom, irreversible change will come to a Venezuela of Prosperity, Justice, and Peace!"