It is estimated that there are still more than 700 people detained for political reasons in the country
The authorities announced this Thursday (1st) the release of 88 people detained in the demonstrations that took place after the re-election of in 2024, which the opposition denounced as fraudulent, according to a statement.
“In the last few hours there have been 88 new releases of people deprived of their liberty for crimes committed in the context of violent actions, by extremist sectors, following the electoral process of July 28, 2024”, informed the Ministry of Penitentiary Service. The text details that President Nicolás Maduro instructed to evaluate “each situation individually and adopt, according to the law, precautionary measures”.
On December 25, the release of a group of 99 people was announced, although NGOs such as Foro Penal were only able to verify 61 cases. It is estimated that there are still more than 700 people detained for political reasons in the country.
These releases coincide with increased pressure on the Maduro government from the United States, which since August has mobilized a naval detachment in the Caribbean, ordered the informal closure of Venezuelan airspace and now seizes sanctioned oil tankers in the vicinity of Venezuelan ports. “Despite the context of permanent harassment against the Nation, the Venezuelan State guarantees people deprived of their liberty dignified treatment, respect for their human rights and full attention”, claims the ministry in the note.
The 2024 presidential elections resulted in protests that resulted in 28 deaths and 2,400 arrests with the intensification of police repression, after the Venezuelan opposition denounced fraud and ratified the victory of Edmundo González Urrutia, the candidate sponsored by opposition leader María Corina Machado. Venezuelan justice has released more than 2,000 detainees since then, according to official records.
*With information from AFP
