NGO Foro Penal counts 382 political prisoners in Venezuela

The Venezuelan non-governmental organization Foro Penal, a leading advocate for political prisoners, reported on Wednesday that 382 individuals remain detained in the country for political reasons. The latest tally, with a cutoff date of August 3, indicates a slight increase from the 379 recorded on July 27.

According to the NGO's figures, the detained population consists of 356 men and 26 women. Among them, 222 are civilians and 160 are military personnel, with the whereabouts of one individual unknown. The report also notes that 40 of the detainees are foreign nationals. Of the total, 158 individuals have been convicted, while 224 are awaiting sentencing.

Foro Penal did not provide specific details regarding four individuals reportedly detained "recently." However, the organization regularly reviews past detention reports that may not have been initially communicated to them. This ongoing monitoring highlights the dynamic nature of political detentions in Venezuela.

Past reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch have described a "revolving door" pattern in Venezuela, where the release of some political prisoners is followed by the detention of others. In February of this year, following the capture of Venezuelan official Nicolás Maduro by U.S. troops, the Parliament approved an Amnesty Law covering 13 events across 13 different years. The government, led by acting president Delcy Rodríguez, stated that over 8,000 people benefited from this law, though many were already under restricted liberty. Simultaneously, the government has ordered hundreds of releases.

Since 2014, Foro Penal has documented a total of 19,175 political detentions in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government consistently denies the existence of political prisoners, maintaining that all detainees have committed criminal offenses. This assertion is rejected by the opposition and various NGOs.