The Argentine Border Guard officer freed after almost 450 days jailed in Venezuelan prison said in Buenos Aires on Wednesday that he is trying to “rejoin society.”
Gendarmería officer Nahuel Agustín Gallo, who returned to Argentina on Monday, said at a press conference that he still has “little information” about what happened during his captivity.
“I’m healthy, thank God. I’m undergoing tests and trying to rejoin society,” he told a press conference.
The officer said he had been told by the Venezuelan authorities that Argentina had formally requested his release during captivity.
“I was told by the Venezuelan state that the Argentine state had asked for me. There were people of 35 different nationalities there, and the only one who was singled out significantly was me, because they had asked for me,” he said.
“Rodeo I is not a very good place. It’s a place of considerable psychological torture.”
Gallo added that 24 other foreign nationals remain imprisoned in the facility.
“There are 24 more foreigners in Rodeo I waiting to be released. I had the opportunity to be freed on Sunday, with a great deal of uncertainty. They don’t tell you where you’re going there – it’s a matter of moments and days,” he said, speaking at the headquarters of the Argentine Border Guard.
He said his son had been the main source of strength during his detention.
“Thank God, my mental fortitude – and thinking about my son – was the only thing that kept me strong. It’s not easy being in solitary confinement and being accused of crimes that are irrelevant.”
Gallo called on people not to forget the situation in Venezuela.
“Don’t forget Venezuela, which is in transition. Political prisoners are still waiting to be released. I met many Venezuelans who helped me, even if it was just with a sock, because we foreigners had no visits and no phone calls.”
He also urged the international media “not to sit back and to lend a hand.”
“My mind is still locked up. Until those 24 foreigners are freed, I’m not free. I’m not ready yet to tell you about the atrocities they committed.”
Gallo thanked the “institutions and international organisations” involved in securing his return, as well as the Argentine state.
“I won’t give names. I’m referring to the entire Argentine nation,” he said, without mentioning the Argentine Football Association (AFA), which helped facilitate his release.
At the press conference, Gallo was accompanied by Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and the chief of the Argentine Border Guard, Commander General Claudio Brilloni.
Opening the conference, Monteoliva expressed relief at the officer’s return.
“Having Gallo back brings us great joy – to know he is safe and at home,” the Security Minister told reporters.
Foreign Minister Quirno also welcomed the officer’s return and highlighted the diplomatic efforts made by the government to secure his release.
“It brings us immense joy that Nahuel is with us again. Today you are finally in your own country and with your family. The government worked tirelessly,” he said.
In that context, Quirno said the Executive branch would continue working on other open cases, including another jailed Argentine, Germán Giuliani.
“The Argentine government will continue working to secure Giuliani’s prompt release,” he added.
– TIMES/NA
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