The Venezuelan government has released three former Caracas Metropolitan Police officers after 23 years in prison, ending one of the longest detention cases in the country.
Héctor Rovaín, Erasmo Bolívar and Luis Molina left the Fénix complex, in the state of Lara, on Tuesday, following the government’s announcement that up to 300 prisoners would be released, including the elderly and sick.
The regime, however, avoids classifying them as political prisoners and insists that they were all convicted of common crimes.
The three were held responsible for a case on April 11, 2002, in Caracas, when 19 people died and more than 100 were injured during the crisis that almost toppled Hugo Chávez.
Family members and opponents have always treated the case as an example of political persecution and a judiciary aligned with Chavismo. Upon leaving prison, Bolívar spoke of “Via Crucis” and asked the families of other prisoners to maintain pressure and hope.
Human rights entities estimate that more than 400 political prisoners remain detained in Venezuela, including civilians and military personnel.
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In parallel, Delcy Rodríguez’s government tries to present the releases as a sign of openness, while critics remember that many of the current leaders acted in or benefited from the repressive apparatus.
