Argentine military police officer Nahuel Gallo said he suffered “psychological torture” in his first public appearance since being released from a prison in Venezuela after 448 days. 

He spoke at a highly-anticipated press conference after the Argentine government confirmed that the Argentine Football Association (AFA), not the administration, was behind Gallo’s release.

“In my mind, I am still imprisoned. And until those 24 other foreigners are released, I am not free,” he said, speaking about other prisoners in El Rodeo I, where he was detained.

“It’s awful. I don’t want to talk about the things they did, the atrocities they committed. I can’t yet, I don’t feel ready,” he added. Gallo spoke in the Gendarmerie building, flanked by Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, and the head of Gendarmerie, General Claudio Brilloni. Neither Gallo nor the public officials took questions from the press.

“Let’s not forget Venezuela. Venezuela is supposedly in transition. But those political prisoners there are waiting to be released,” Gallo added. 

In January, after the U.S. military kidnapped then-Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, his vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, took office. Since then, she has released more than 200 political prisoners, according to NGO Foro Penal.

AFA’s secret operation

On December 8, 2024, Gallo was detained on charges of espionage while trying to cross to Venezuela from Colombia.

At the conference, Quirno thanked the United States, Italy, Israel, and the NGO Foro Penal.

However, the day before, Senator Patricia Bullrich, who served as security minister until last November, confirmed the operation was conducted by the AFA, which was not even mentioned in the conference. Gallo, however, thanked “all the institutions that took action” but clarified he was not “going to name names.”

The AFA conducted “a secret operation without informing the Argentine government,” said Bullrich during an event by the Fundación Libertad. The AFA is currently at odds with President Milei.

On Sunday, the head of the AFA, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, said, “Thanks to quiet, joint efforts by the Venezuelan Football Federation and CONMEBOL, today, after 448 days, Nahuel Gallo is returning to Argentina and can be reunited with his family.” The AFA spoke about the operation before any government authorities.

During the conference, Gallo said that he “made an [Argentina] flag out of soap” to feel like he “was home.”

“Foreigners always asked me: Why are you so patriotic? I said I don’t know,” he said.

© Buenos Aires Herald