Venezuela requested, this Monday (23), the “immediate” release of deposed president Nicolás Maduro before the United Nations, while the releases continue under an amnesty decreed by his successor under pressure from Washington.
Maduro was captured in a US operation on January 3which included bombings in Caracas and other neighboring regions. His wife was also detained. Both face trial for drug trafficking in New York, where the president declared himself a “prisoner of war”.
Venezuela demands “the immediate release, by the United States government, of the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife, the first lady Cilia Flores”, declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, before the United Nations Human Rights Council.
After the US attack, Delcy Rodríguez took over power and reversed the tense relationship with President Donald Trump.
She gave up control of the oil industrybegan a process of releasing political prisoners that preceded a general amnesty decreed on February 19 and ordered the closure of the Helicoide prison, which had been denounced as a torture center.
His brother, the President of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, reported that 1,500 people filed amnesty requests in Justice. The NGO Foro Penal, dedicated to the defense of political prisoners, stated that 65 people were released full in the last three days, according to a report released this Monday.
The law, however, was considered insufficient and exclusionary by human rights organizations. It does not cover, for example, cases related to the military, which are frequent at Rodeo I prison, where around 200 prisoners began a hunger strike over the weekend.
“Dodging responsibilities”
Maduro ruled with an iron fist between 2013 and 2026. He was investigated by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and his re-election in 2024 was marked by allegations of fraud.
“Human rights cannot be instruments of political war, they cannot be selective, they cannot depend on ideological alignments”, declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Geneva, calling for the end of sanctions against Venezuela.
“Venezuela is not here to avoid responsibilities”he stated. “We are a State committed to strengthening our institutions.”
65 prisoners released
The NGO Foro Penal reported that 65 prisoners were released under amnestyaccording to a count published this morning.
One of its directors, Gonzalo Himiob, published in X the numbers of those who received amnesty since the law came into force three days ago: seven on Friday, 15 on Saturday and 43 on Sunday. “We are still checking other cases,” he wrote.
“Freedom!”, “Let’s all get out!”, “Rodeo I is on hunger strike!”, shouted a group of political prisoners on Sunday night, in the prison located on the outskirts of Caracas.
Or Argentine gendarme Nahuel Agustín Gallo — accused of “terrorism” and conspiracy — also joined the protest.
The families’ concern was mixed with the joy of the first releases, which were received with applause.
A Red Cross had access to several penitentiaries for the first time on Sunday (22), including El Rodeo, to assess the conditions of the prisoners.
Parliamentary leader Rodríguez also stated that around 11 thousand people on parole during the 27 years of Chavismo would have full freedom.
The government also announced the start of renovation work on the Helicoide prison to transform it into a social and sports center for the police. Activists have advocated its conversion into a memorial museum.
“The development of the project began immediately. We consulted the community, the police officers’ families, and carried out architectural and engineering studies,” said the Minister of Public Works, Juan José Ramírez, in a video broadcast on the X network.
“Today we can say that, in less than a month, The project has already been approved and is in the implementation phase.”he added.
*AFP
