Third Portuguese political prisoner released in Venezuela

Portuguese was the godfather of a political human rights activist and was detained in his own home without a warrant

The third Portuguese political prisoner in Venezuela was released this Wednesday. Jaime dos Reis Macedo had been in prison since July 2025 and the family was desperate, having even made several appeals for his release.

The former political prisoner was violently detained at home in Venezuela when he was with his wife. The moment was recorded on video and was published by . The woman’s desperation is evident, as she was asking the authorities where they were taking him at the time, as he was detained without a warrant.

But the family knows the reason: he is the godfather of Ana Karina Garcia, a political activist for human rights and exiled in Colombia since 2018. In the interview he gave to TVI/CNN Portugal, he assured that the godfather’s detention was a maneuver to target her, accusing Nicolás Maduro’s government of persecution.

Jaime Macedo is now at home with his mother and sister, at a time when the whole family is relieved and happy with his release.

The Portuguese Government has already reacted, stressing that Portugal “maintains firm its diplomatic commitment to the freedom of all political prisoners and human rights”.

The Government welcomes the release of Portuguese-Venezuelan citizen Jaime Reis Macedo, detained since July 18, 2025. To Jaime Reis and his family, all our solidarity.

🇵🇹 remains firm in its diplomatic commitment to the freedom of all political prisoners and human rights.

— Foreign Affairs PT (@nestrangeiro_pt)

Of the Portuguese-Venezuelan citizens, there are also five political prisoners.