Full freedom granted to Judge María Lourdes Afiuni; her case is permanently closed

The judicial process against Venezuelan Judge María Lourdes Afiuni has definitively concluded, granting her full liberty and closing her case after more than 16 years of restrictions and persecution. Her family confirmed the decision, calling it the end of a process that they believe "never should have existed."

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the definitive closure of the judicial process against her and the full restitution of her freedom, putting an end to more than 16 years of restrictions, persecution and consequences derived from a case that her loved ones consider a sample of the deterioration of judicial independence in Venezuela.

While welcoming the closure, Afiuni's relatives emphasized that the ruling does not undo the profound physical and emotional damage she suffered during years of what they describe as persecution. The news came shortly after her family raised concerns about a significant deterioration in her health.

Afiuni was recently taken to a medical center due to dizziness, vomiting, and high blood pressure. Medical examinations revealed three tumorous lesions, leading her oncology team to request specialized care and the possibility of her traveling to the United States, where her daughter resides.

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the outcome represents the end of a process that, in their opinion, 'never should have existed'.

With her freedom fully restored, her family views this as the formal end of a case that has been linked to numerous accusations of human rights violations and judicial guarantee breaches. They extended gratitude to national and international human rights organizations, legal professionals, journalists, and citizens who supported the case and maintained their advocacy over the years.

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the decision does not eliminate the physical and emotional impact that the situation left on the judge, nor does it repair the damages suffered during the years of persecution.

The family stressed that the case's conclusion should serve as a stark warning about the dangers of using the judicial system for retaliation against independent-minded officials. They asserted that no judge should endure imprisonment, persecution, humiliation, or threats for fulfilling their duties and upholding justice against political pressure.

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three tumorous lesions after being transferred urgently to a medical center due to a picture of dizziness, vomiting and hypertension.