Foro Penal Confirms 24 Political Prisoners Transferred From El Rodeo I

Foro Penal has confirmed the transfer of 24 people considered political prisoners from Venezuela’s El Rodeo I prison, while trying to verify reports involving at least 70 others.

Gonzalo Himiob, the non-governmental organization’s vice president, said the group had received information about at least 94 transfers to prisons elsewhere in the country. Its legal assistance network had identified the destination facilities in 24 cases, he said, and continued tracing the rest.

The movements from the prison complex in Miranda state are being monitored by human-rights organizations, which are following detention conditions and due-process concerns involving the prisoners.

Foro Penal’s legal team said it would continue checking the information in direct coordination with relatives of detainees. The group said the work was intended to certify the prisoners’ new locations and ensure they receive legal assistance.

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At this time, Foro Penal has received information about at least 94 transfers of political prisoners from El Rodeo I to other detention centers. We have been able to verify 24 cases in which the destination prison is already known. We are continuing to verify the information.