Foro Penal says Venezuela freed at least 24 more political prisoners

Venezuela’s leading human rights organization said on Monday that at least 24 political prisoners were released in the early morning, bringing the total freed in recent days to at least 41, according to Foro Penal. Gonzalo Himiob, a leader of Foro Penal, said on social media just after 6 a.m.

local time that even more prisoners might have been freed. The releases, which began on Thursday, were described in the report as the most visible gesture of change by the interim Venezuelan government. The article says that on Jan. 3 American soldiers raided the country and captured President Nicolás Maduro.

Two of those released on Monday were Italian citizens, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Facebook. Some freed in recent days include prominent opposition figures: Rocío San Miguel, released on Thursday, had been investigating the government, and Enrique Márquez, a former presidential candidate who had demanded voting records from the disputed 2024 election, was also freed.

Rights groups say most of the prisoners had been charged with incitement of hate, terrorism or conspiring to overthrow the government for simply exercising basic political rights. The interim government has promised to free an "important number" of detainees, while rights groups estimate that between 800 and 900 political prisoners remain in Venezuela, many under harsh conditions.

Key Topics

World, Foro Penal, Venezuela, Gonzalo Himiob, Nicolás Maduro, Rocío San Miguel