A leading Venezuelan human rights group, Foro Penal, reports that at least 80 political prisoners have been released, facilitated under pressure from the United States. Alfredo Romero, the head of Foro Penal, is currently in the process of verifying the identities of those freed from various prisons across the country this past Saturday, with indications that more releases may follow.
This action comes shortly after the U.S. apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, bringing him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges earlier in the month. Amidst these developments, interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that over 600 prisoners had been released; however, Foro Penal disputes this figure, suggesting it has been artificially inflated.
Romero disclosed the release via social media, including details about Kennedy Tejeda, a colleague held in Tocorón prison since August 2024. Legal experts from Foro Penal stated that the number of releases could potentially exceed 80 as they continue with their verifications.
It is important to note that many of those released in recent weeks do not have their charges formally dropped, creating a precarious legal situation where they are prohibited from voicing their opinions publicly.
Prior to this weekend’s developments, Foro Penal had confirmed the release of only 156 political prisoners since January 8. Noteworthy among those freed are domestic opposition figures and several Spanish nationals. Rodriguez also mentioned plans for a call on Monday with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to discuss the verification of the release lists.
The Venezuelan government has faced longstanding accusations from human rights groups and activists regarding the use of detentions as a means to silence dissent. However, the government maintains that these individuals were detained for criminal activities, denying the existence of political prisoners. This situation escalated following the disputed 2024 presidential election where Maduro claimed victory alongside widespread allegations of electoral fraud.
