Czech prisoner Darmovzal is back in the hospital. This is what he told reporters for AKTU.cz after his return.

Return of the special plane to Prague

The government sent a special plane to South America to secure the return of Jan Darmovzal and six other prisoners of various nationalities to Europe. The aircraft, with a medevac team, a doctor and a psychologist on board, landed on Sunday evening at Václav Havel Airport, where, for security reasons, the arrival was moved to the government terminal off to the side.

Close relatives were waiting on site, as well as the prime minister and the foreign minister, who had been handling the case during weeks of negotiations with Venezuelan authorities. Armed police guarded the terminal, journalists had access only to designated zones and could not reach the plane itself.

Strict security and medical supervision

After the aircraft touched down the rear ramp opened and a convoy of military ambulances and security vehicles drove onto the apron, providing a quick and protected transfer for the released prisoners. Jan Darmovzal disembarked with the assistance of medical staff who had been monitoring his condition during the flight, and after a short transfer across the airfield he was loaded into an ambulance heading to the Central Military Hospital.

The operation also included a medevac medical unit, prepared to respond especially for those released whose health is significantly worse than that of the Czech citizen. In Jan Darmovzal's case, doctors repeatedly stress the need for comprehensive examinations after nearly a year and a half spent in the harsh conditions of the Venezuelan prison.

Arrival at the Central Military Hospital and initial examinations

The convoy with a specially secured escort arrived at the grounds of the Central Military Hospital in Prague in the evening hours; entry to the compound was completely closed for several minutes. Darmovzal was immediately handed over to military doctors, who began a series of internal, psychological and other specialist examinations focused on the effects of long-term stress and imprisonment.

According to information so far his condition is not critical, yet doctors speak of the need for gradual convalescence and psychological stabilization. The Central Military Hospital was chosen precisely because of its combination of top-level specialized care and a high degree of security, which allows protecting the patient's privacy and the sensitive circumstances of his case.

Exclusive interview for AKTU.cz

Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Jan Darmovzal answered AKTU.cz's question about how he would describe his current feelings about returning home. He said that he "already feels well"!

Next steps and the political background

Darmovzal was detained in Venezuela in September 2024, when the local regime claimed he was involved in an alleged plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro, even though authorities never presented credible evidence nor charged him with a specific crime. International institutions, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, described his detention as part of a broader system of arbitrary arrests and forced disappearances.[9][10][8]

The Czech government, after his release, speaks of a major diplomatic success and of its readiness to negotiate a gradual restoration of relations with Venezuela, while also stressing that the case is a warning to anyone heading to authoritarian countries. Jan Darmovzal remains at the Central Military Hospital for now, where under the supervision of doctors and psychologists he begins a new chapter of his life — already safe back home, but with an experience that has left a lasting mark on his personal story and on Czech foreign policy.