After a brief visit to the Olympic Games in Paris, Jan sets out for his dream vacation in Venezuela. He flies to Caracas via Paris and Lisbon.

Jan regularly stays in touch with his family and friends, sending them photos and sharing experiences from his vacation. At the same time, he is arranging the handover of his equipment for a planned glacier course in Switzerland.

Since September 5, Jan has not contacted anyone and did not arrive at the agreed meeting place in Zurich, where he was supposed to meet his friends. His disappearance was reported to the Czech diplomatic service in Bogotá and subsequently to the Czech Police.

Diosdado Cabello announces on state television that Jan has been arrested and labels him a CIA mercenary, accusing him of conspiracy to destabilize the country. At the same time, the family receives information from the Czech consul in Bogotá confirming that Jan has been detained and imprisoned in Venezuela.

The Czech Republic sent a diplomatic note to Venezuela and, together with the family’s lawyer, repeatedly requested information and a consular visit. However, the Venezuelan authorities have not responded so far.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issues precautionary measure PM 1150-24 and calls on Venezuela to take remedial action in favor of Jan Darmovzal, including disclosure of his whereabouts, ensuring access to lawyers, and protection of his life.

Venezuela does not respond to the IACHR call. The Commission therefore issues resolution PM 1150-24 on precautionary measures in the case of Jan Darmovzal.

Renowned Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero dedicated her Prague concert to Jan.

Following negotiations by U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell, the first group of six American prisoners held in Venezuela was released as a result of an intensive diplomatic initiative by the United States.

The parents speak via video call with released American prisoner David Estrella, who describes the inhumane conditions of detention in Venezuela, which he also later discusses in an interview with the media.

In a press release, the United Nations called on Venezuela to comply with international law and to immediately clarify the fate and whereabouts of the detained persons, as well as to prevent irreversible harm to their health.

Jan is allowed his first contact with the outside world — a short phone call with his parents.

As part of an exchange mediated by El Salvador, Venezuela released the remaining ten American citizens, leaving no other Americans in its prisons. The United States simultaneously deported 252 Venezuelan migrants, and the Venezuelan regime released 80 political prisoners. Jan Darmovzal was not part of the agreement.

A video call between the parents and released American prisoner Josef Castaneda, who also describes the very difficult conditions of detention and the uncertainty in which the prisoners were held for a long time.

Exactly one year after Jan's detention, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský issues a statement on X, publicly calling on Venezuela for his immediate release.

Humanitarian visits were allowed for several prisoners, but not for Jan.

On the eve of Jan’s 35th birthday, he is allowed a second brief phone call with his parents.

The first group of seventeen Colombians and one Ecuadorian has been released. Jan continues to wait for a consular visit…

Venezuela released French-Chilean citizen Camilo Pierre Castro, who had been detained since June 2025 after crossing the border from Colombia. According to Franceinfo, the release was the result of quiet diplomacy, and France stated that no quid pro quo was involved. The case once again highlighted the dozens of foreign detainees held in Venezuelan prisons.