At least 17 political prisoners freed in Venezuela, two days after dialogue

At least 17 political prisoners have been released in Venezuela, as confirmed by the prominent legal defense NGO Foro Penal. This development follows closely on the heels of the first round of negotiations between the ruling party and a sector of the opposition, led by former legislator Dinorah Figuera.

Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of Foro Penal, announced on X that the organization had verified 17 releases of political prisoners on Friday, noting that the process was ongoing and urging patience for complete, verified information. Earlier, Alfredo Romero, the NGO's president, had reported the release of six women, including Emirlendris Benítez. Benítez was reportedly connected to a 2018 assassination attempt against then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Foro Penal did not specify the conditions of release, but the NGO typically uses the term "excarcelado" (released from prison) to refer to individuals freed under restrictive measures. These latest releases come just a day after Figuera pledged to work towards securing more political prisoner releases in the "coming days."

Figuera met with a group of former political prisoners in Venezuela on Tuesday, coinciding with the dialogue initiated with the government. The talks are being observed by the United States, which recently intervened in Caracas to apprehend Maduro. Since Maduro's capture, hundreds of releases have occurred, alongside the approval of an Amnesty Law benefiting over 8,000 individuals, many under restricted freedom.

The government and opposition also agreed during their dialogue to renew all judges on the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), an institution often criticized for serving the government's interests. Additionally, both parties aim to recover the country's assets held in the Bank of England to aid victims of a recent earthquake that caused significant fatalities and damage.