Foro Penal: 40 Foreign Nationals Held as Political Prisoners in Venezuela

The Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal has reported that, as of August 3, there are 40 foreign nationals detained and considered political prisoners within Venezuela. This figure highlights the ongoing issue of political detentions in the country and the international dimension of the crisis.

Among the foreign detainees, individuals with Colombian nationality and those holding dual Colombian-Venezuelan citizenship represent the largest contingents, with 11 individuals in each category. The report also includes five individuals with Spanish-Venezuelan dual nationality and five with Italian-Venezuelan dual nationality. The remaining foreign prisoners comprise individuals from Argentina, Chile-Venezuela, Cyprus-Venezuela, Cuba, Guyana, Lebanon, Portugal-Venezuela, and Trinidad.

Foro Penal issued a strong statement via social media, demanding the "immediate liberation and full respect for their human rights" of these foreign prisoners. The organization explicitly condemned the practice of using "foreign political prisoners as bargaining chips," calling for an end to such tactics.

In a broader context, Foro Penal's latest figures indicate a total of 382 political prisoners in Venezuela as of August 3. This total includes 356 men and 26 women, with 222 civilians and 160 military personnel. The primary detention centers cited are El Rodeo I, Ramo Verde, and Fuerte Guaicaipuro. The organization regularly updates these figures, providing a critical count of political detentions in the country.

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We demand their immediate liberation and full respect for their human rights. Enough of using foreign political prisoners as bargaining chips.