At least 80 political prisoners were released in Venezuela over the course of the weekend.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the information was released by Foro Penal, a prominent human rights organization in the country.
Alfredo Romero, the director of the organization, stated that the process of identifying the individuals is currently ongoing, and the number of those released is expected to rise. Gonzalo Himiob, a lawyer for Foro Penal, noted in a statement on the X social media platform that the final figure could exceed 80 once all verifications are completed.
The release of the prisoners follows the arrest of Nicolas Maduro earlier this month. Under the administration of US President Donald Trump, Maduro was taken into custody and transported to New York to face charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. This shift in the regional political landscape has placed significant pressure on the current administration in Caracas.
On the other hand, interim president Delcy Rodriguez claimed that more than 600 prisoners had been set free; however, Foro Penal emphasized that this figure is exaggerated. According to the organization, those released include Kennedy Tejeda, who had been detained in the Tocorón prison since August 2024.
Human rights defenders warn that charges have not been dropped against many of those released. This leaves them in a state of legal uncertainty and prohibits them from making public statements. Since January 8, a total of 156 political prisoners, including opposition representatives and at least five Spanish citizens, have been freed.
Delcy Rodriguez also stated that she would contact the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to request that the UN verify the lists of released individuals. It should be noted that the international community and human rights organizations have long accused the Venezuelan government of using illegal detentions to silence critics and political opponents.
