Venezuela releases dozens of political prisoners

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.

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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.

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