At least 80 political prisoners were freed across the country over the weekend following pressure from the United States, a prominent Venezuelan rights organisation, Foro Penal, said.
The group’s director, Alfredo Romero, said his team is still verifying identities and that further releases are likely.
“The number could rise more than 80 as we proceed with verification,” Foro Penal lawyer Gonzalo Himiob wrote on X.
The releases come after the U.S. arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month and transferred him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
On Friday, interim President Delcy Rodríguez claimed more than 600 prisoners had been freed, a figure Foro Penal says is exaggerated.
Romero announced the latest releases on social media, posting an image of fellow Foro Penal member Kennedy Tejeda, whom he said had been held at Tocorón prison since August 2024.
The group has warned that many of those freed in recent weeks have not had charges dropped, leaving them in legal limbo and barred from speaking publicly.
Before the latest developments, Foro Penal had confirmed the release of 156 political prisoners since 8 January, including opposition figures and at least five Spanish nationals.
Separately, Rodríguez said she would speak with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to request UN verification of the release lists.
Human rights organisations have long accused the Venezuelan government of detaining critics to silence dissent, an allegation authorities deny, saying detainees were arrested for criminal offences.
Many were detained following the disputed 2024 presidential election, in which Maduro claimed victory despite opposition challenges and international criticism.
The United States and Iran have significantly escalated their conflict, exchanging heavy missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region. Iran claim...
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with an alleged extreme right-wing terrorism plot targeting a major Islamic gathering in Suffolk, promp...
Ukraine and a group of key Western allies have launched a new air defence coalition to develop a European anti-ballistic missile system that will comp...
Türkiye delivered 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Venezuela on Monday, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the country's reconstruction after last month's devastating earthquakes.
Disease outbreaks, poor sanitation and limited access to clean water could pose major health risks to tens of thousands of survivors of Venezuela’s deadly earthquakes, the Americas branch of the World Health Organization said on Thursday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 10th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit the eastern coast of mainland China this year, brought heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and landslides after making landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday. More than 2.8 million people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm.
President Ilham Aliyev is holding his annual question-and-answer session with international journalists at the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan.
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with an alleged extreme right-wing terrorism plot targeting a major Islamic gathering in Suffolk, prompting counter-terrorism police to declare a major incident and bring the event to an early close.
Ukraine and a group of key Western allies have launched a new air defence coalition to develop a European anti-ballistic missile system that will complement existing defences and reduce reliance on the costly U.S.-made Patriot system.
Russian athletes will once again be allowed to represent their country in international modern pentathlon competitions after the sport's governing body lifted restrictions on their participation, marking another step in Russia's return to international sport.
The AFC/M23 rebel movement is using its response to a small Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as evidence of its ability to govern territory under its control, establishing parallel health structures and relying partly on support from neighbouring Rwanda.
Britain has moved to target Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and another Iran-linked organisation using new state-threat powers following a series of antisemitic incidents across the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment