Machado calls for global rallies supporting political prisoners

The Venezuelan opposition, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, is mobilizing its supporters worldwide to demand the release of political prisoners. Machado, speaking from exile, has called for simultaneous demonstrations in over 120 cities across the globe, including Caracas, on Sunday, May 3rd. This coordinated action underscores the opposition's strategy to leverage international pressure to address the human rights situation within Venezuela.

The rallies are scheduled to take place at significant locations, such as the headquarters of the Bolivian Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Caracas, known as El Helicoide, a site associated with the detention of political opponents. Demonstrations are also planned in numerous cities across Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the United States, Canada, and several South American countries, highlighting the extensive reach of the Venezuelan diaspora and its engagement in the country's political struggles.

According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are 454 political prisoners in Venezuela, including foreign nationals or those with dual citizenship. The Venezuelan government maintains that these individuals are imprisoned for committing crimes, a narrative consistently rejected by opposition groups and human rights organizations. This stark disagreement over the nature of the detentions forms the core of the ongoing political conflict and the international community's concern.

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Ellos y sus familias necesitan de nuestra voz, necesitan de nuestra fuerza y por eso alzaremos nuestra voz, este domingo 3 de mayo, para que el mundo entero escuche el clamor por la libertad, por la justicia, por la democracia, que hoy elevamos desde Venezuela