In brief
A recent announcement from Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights organization, confirmed the release of at least 80 political prisoners following international pressure. The group, led by Alfredo Romero, is currently verifying the identities of those freed and expects further releases. This is seen as part of increased scrutiny on the Maduro regime following a high-profile arrest. Many released still face legal uncertainties, highlighting ongoing human rights issues in Venezuela.
A leading Venezuelan human rights group says at least 80 political prisoners have been released under pressure from the US.
Alfredo Romero, head of Foro Penal, said his group was verifying the identities of those freed from prisons across the country on Saturday - and more releases were likely to take place.
This marks the latest batch of detainees freed since the US seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid and took him to New York to stand trial on drug-trafficking charges earlier this month.
On Friday, Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez reported that over 600 prisoners had been freed; however, Foro Penal disputes this figure as exaggerated.
Romero announced the releases on social media, highlighting the case of colleague Kennedy Tejeda, who had been imprisoned in Tocorón since August 2024.
Foro Penal's lawyer Gonzalo Himiob revealed that the number of releases might exceed 80 as they continue verification.
Despite recent releases, many former detainees still have not had the charges against them removed, leaving them in legal limbo and restricted from public speaking, according to Foro Penal.
Previously, the group had confirmed only 156 political prisoners released since January 8, with domestic opposition figures and several foreign nationals among those confirmed freed.
Following these developments, Rodriguez indicated she would discuss the situation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, seeking the UN's assistance in verifying the lists of those released.
Human rights advocates have consistently accused the Maduro government of leveraging detentions as tools against critics. While the government refutes such claims, asserting that those detained were alleged criminals, numerous arrests occurred post-2024 elections amid disputes over their legitimacy.
