Venezuela Roundup: Flights banned from Colombia, release of veteran wrongfully detained in Venezuela, visa exemption
Flights banned from Colombia
On May 19, 2025, Venezuela banned flights from neighbouring Colombia following the arrest of over 30 individuals accused of plotting to destabilise the country ahead of the May 25 elections. The announcement came as an OAS-backed independent panel released a report highlighting serious human rights abuses in Venezuela, citing increased repression since the July 28 presidential election. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated the flight ban would take immediate effect and extend beyond the election day, when voters are set to choose Governors and National Assembly members. However, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Venezuela had indicated flights would resume the day after the election.
Release of veteran wrongfully detained in Venezuela
The family of Joseph St. Clair, a U.S. Air Force veteran wrongfully detained in Venezuela since November 2024, announced his release on Tuesday. St. Clair, a four-tour Afghanistan War veteran from Hansville, Washington, had gone missing while receiving PTSD treatment in Colombia. His parents expressed overwhelming joy and gratitude, though details of his release were not disclosed. They credited former President Donald Trump and his team—including Ambassador Ric Grenell, Adam Boehler, and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Sebastian Gorka—for securing his freedom, but declined further comment to Fox News Digital.
Venezuela-India partnership
On Monday, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil met with Indian Ambassador Ashok Babu in Caracas to reaffirm the longstanding cooperative relationship between Venezuela and India, which spans 65 years of diplomatic ties. Gil described the meeting as productive, focusing on strengthening collaboration in political, energy, and trade sectors, and emphasised both nations’ shared commitment to dialogue and understanding in multilateral forums. The discussion also aimed to further solidify their alliance and expand strategic cooperation based on converging international perspectives.
Parliamentary and regional elections
Ten months after his contested reelection, Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro is seeking to consolidate his grip on power in Sunday’s parliamentary and regional elections, which the opposition is boycotting. Voters are set to elect 24 state governors and 285 national assembly members, though turnout is expected to be low. Disillusionment among opposition supporters has deepened since the disputed July presidential election, where Maduro claimed a third term despite opposition tallies indicating a clear victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
Visa exemption
The visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports between Kyrgyzstan and Venezuela has officially come into effect, according to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Signed on September 27, 2024, in New York, the agreement allows diplomatic and service passport holders from both countries to enter and stay in the other’s territory without a visa for up to 90 days. This follows Kyrgyzstan’s January 2025 parliamentary approval of similar agreements with several countries, including Albania, Montenegro, Cyprus, Venezuela, and Thailand.
