EXCLUSIVE: Two Green Berets behind botched Venezuelan coup are seen alive and healthy for the first time in six months as they are allowed Zoom call with their families
The US soldiers jailed in Venezuela after a failed military coup are seen for the first time almost six months since their capture.
The two men, both former Green Berets, appeared healthy and in 'great spirits' as they spoke with their families on a Zoom call.
In exclusive images from the video call, obtained , Airan Berry, 41, and Luke Denman, 34, who have been locked up since May, appear in good shape despite their ordeal.
The call came as a surprise to the families of the two men who haven't seen or heard from them since their capture.
It was a particular highlight for Berry's family, as it came on the ninth birthday of one of his children.
‘We were just over the moon excited and so very happy to be able to speak with Airan,’ his wife Melanie told DailyMail.com from her home in Germany. ‘He looked healthy and happy to see us.’
Denman's brother Mark said their family was 'thrilled' with the call but said it remains a 'very delicate situation'.
Airan Berry, 41, and Luke Denman, 34, made a surprise Zoom call to their families - marking the first time they've been heard from since their arrest in May
The two former Green Berets were taken into custody after Operation Gedeon, the disastrous attempt to topple embattled Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. In exclusive images from the video call, obtained by DailyMail.com, the men appear in good shape despite their ordeal
Two lightly armed teams had launched by boat from training camps in Colombia, with several reported killed as the first vessel came under fire at a beach near the capital of Caracas. Despite having no access to their lawyers, the friends were prosecuted by the regime and quickly found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking in illegal arms and terrorism
The call came as a surprise to the families of the two men who haven't seen or heard from them since their capture. It was a particular highlight for Berry's family, as it came on the ninth birthday of one of his children. Pictured: Berry's wife Melanie (left) and Denman's brother Mark (right)
The soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison over charges relating to Operation Gedeon, the disastrous attempt to topple embattled Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro (pictured)
The soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison over charges relating to Operation Gedeon, the disastrous attempt to topple embattled Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, organized by a third former Special Forces operator and local renegade soldiers.
Berry and Denman were picked up by the country’s security forces in a fishing village a day after the unlikely operation reached its shores.
Two lightly armed teams had launched by boat from training camps in Colombia, with several reported killed as the first vessel came under fire at a beach near the capital of Caracas.
Despite having no access to their lawyers, the friends were prosecuted by the regime and quickly found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking in illegal arms and terrorism.
Their families say they were duped into believing it was a US-sanctioned operation.
Since then, relatives have been trying to get help from the Department of State, with no luck.
The only time they had previously seen them was in grim hostage-style confession videos, released as propaganda by a bombastic Maduro soon after their arrest.
Denman's brother Mark, who has been leading a campaign for the pair from his home in Austin, Texas, said: ‘It was an extremely happy day for us all. It was just great to see finally that they are well.
‘The last time we saw them, they looked like they hadn’t eaten for a while. There had been no news so of course we were worried.
‘We’ve been working for months and months to try to get at least a phone call. They haven’t had any normal things like a visit from their attorney, we are talking just basic human rights.
‘We had received word from a UN team that they were in good health, but seeing in real time that they are alive and well gets rid of any doubts.’
The only time they had previously seen them was in grim hostage-style confession videos, released as propaganda by a bombastic Maduro soon after their arrest
Berry and Denman (both circled) were picked up by the country’s security forces in a fishing village a day after the unlikely operation reached its shores
Berry's wife Melanie (pictured with their family) and their two children were 'extremely excited' to see him in their own conference call. ‘It was a special day for our daughter because Airan was able to speak to her on her birthday,’ she added
The pair spoke to family members from what appeared to be an office and seemed at ease, he said.
‘They looked healthy and not emaciated or anything. Luke said that they are eating well, that they had enough food. All that is really positive,’ continued Mark.
‘I know him and his posture and he seemed like himself. He didn’t seem traumatised or afraid.
‘That being said of course they went through training for this kind of hostility, so I’m certain they are putting on a brave face. We don’t know what’s really going on but there didn’t appear to be coercion.’
Berry's wife Melanie and their two children were 'extremely excited' to see him in their own conference call.
‘It was a special day for our daughter because Airan was able to speak to her on her birthday,’ she added.
Mark explained that the call seemed to come out of nowhere, but they did not ask too many questions in the hope it will happen again.
‘It was quite a shock,’ he said, ‘We got a message that Luke’s mom should be getting a link where she could talk on Zoom with him and then very quickly we were on.
‘We kept it very light. It was really good of them, so we didn’t try to investigate what was happening. We knew instinctively to stay away from any areas that might jeopardize future contact.
‘Whatever the forces that allowed this to happen, we don’t want them to think this can be a threat. It’s still a very delicate situation.’
Mark explained that the call seemed to come out of nowhere, but they did not ask too many questions in the hope it will happen again. ‘It was quite a shock,’ he said, ‘We got a message that Luke’s mom should be getting a link where she could talk on Zoom with him and then very quickly we were on.' Pictured: Denman during the unexpected Zoom call with his family
The pair spoke to family members from what appeared to be an office and seemed at ease, he said. ‘They looked healthy and not emaciated or anything. Luke said that they are eating well, that they had enough food. All that is really positive,’ continued Mark
Although they seem to spend most of their time indoors, he was happy to hear at least they have their own private cell.
‘They have access to a library, although they have already read everything that’s in English,’ Mark said.
'They have their own cell that they share and clean beds, they have been working out with water jugs and they are trying to learn Spanish. They have a small television in their cell and sometimes they are able to get the news from the BBC.’
Although they have local lawyers on the ground, they have so far been denied access to the men and it would appear there is no room for a legal appeal.
But the families hope the conference call is a step in the right direction.
Mark said: ‘It’s a big important gesture and hopefully a sign that things are moving forward. I’m hoping that eventually there is a deal between the US and Venezuela. That’s our best chance.
‘But that’s in the long-term, we know nothing will happen before the elections, so in the meantime we are working on things like communications and care packages.
‘A lot of it is raising funds for our legal fight and awareness. But this keeps us hopeful and working towards getting them home.’
The families have set up The American Rescue Coalition to campaign for the men and raise money for their legal bills.
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