Andreína Rodríguez (activist)

Andreína del Valle Rodríguez (; ) is a Venezuelan accountant. In January 2025, she was detained after publicly confronting the Argentine influencer Michelo in Caracas for publishing propaganda in favour of the government of Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez has been charged with "terrorism, incitement to hatred and treason" and has been held at El Helicoide. Human rights organisations, including Foro Penal, have classified her as a political prisoner.

Detention

Rodríguez is a licensed accountant by profession. On 5 January 2025, she confronted Argentine influencer Michelo on the Sabana Grande boulevard in Caracas after he began filming her. Rodríguez challenged his publication of pro-government propaganda, alleging that his videos concealed the national crisis Venezuela had been experiencing for years, and that he was "living happily in the country with State money, while Venezuelans go hungry." Rodríguez's family alleged that Michelo used his influence and proximity to the government to publicly single her out, and that in the days that followed she suffered systematic persecution and harassment by security forces.

On 12 January 2025, she was detained by officers of the Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM). The following day, 13 January, the DGCIM published a mocking video that opened with a title-card styled after the anime Dragon Ball, stating "Today we present: María Corina's followers are losing control and drowning in alcohol". The video continued with footage of the confrontation set to circus music, followed by a shot of her detention scored with the theme from the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street and the line "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you". In the video Rodríguez was made to apologise to Michelo and to state that she was in Carúpano, in Sucre State. Michelo celebrated her detention on social media, writing "here, whoever does it really pays for it" in reference to a phrase used by the Argentine government. He also defended the Venezuelan government's "Law Against Fascism", stating that since its passage "peace reigns" and that "Here there are laws and they have to be respected. I respect Venezuelan laws; here no-one is above the law."

On 15 January 2025, the president of Argentina's Coalición Cívica ARI, Maximiliano Ferraro, announced that the Argentine Forum for the Defence of Democracy (FADD) had filed a criminal complaint in Argentina against Michelo. Among other allegations, the complaint accused him of ordering Rodríguez's detention through Venezuelan security agents. Buenos Aires legislator Yamil Santoro also announced he had filed a complaint for the same reasons. Rodríguez was prosecuted under the "Law Against Hatred", charged with "terrorism, incitement to hatred and treason", and has been held at El Helicoide in Caracas.

On 20 January 2026, the first anniversary of her detention, the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPPVE) called a rally near the main offices of the Public Ministry in Caracas to demand that the authorities release Venezuela's political prisoners. Rodríguez's mother took part in the demonstration, stating in an interview, "No-one should be detained for expressing their opinions. This situation changed our lives; that is why we are asking the attorney general for the release of the political prisoners." The Public Ministry's director of human rights declined to receive the families after a two-hour wait. Human rights organisations, including Foro Penal, have classified Rodríguez as a political prisoner.

See also

• Political prisoners during the Bolivarian Revolution