José Ángel Rodríguez Araña

A former lieutenant in the Venezuelan Army, José Ángel Rodríguez Araña graduated from the Military Academy in 2012 and gained recognition for his athletic achievements in international competitions. He became politically active in 2017, joining the movement La Espada de Dios, which aimed to oust Nicolás Maduro from power. After being arrested by military intelligence and enduring torture during his imprisonment, he escaped in November 2017 and has since lived in exile in the United States. His family members have recently faced forced disappearances, drawing international attention to their plight.