Three military officers accused of 'treason' released in Venezuela, according to NGO

Three Venezuelan military officers, previously accused of "treason against the homeland" and linked to an alleged plot against former President Nicolás Maduro, were released from prison on Wednesday. The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (Clipp) reported their release, celebrating the reunion of the officers with their families.

The three individuals, Marcos David Insignares García, Wladimir Rafael Escalona Gutiérrez, and Riannys Valentina Mujica De Montesinos, had been politically detained at the Ramo Verde military prison. They were reportedly stripped of their rank in January 2024 by then-Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, along with over thirty other military personnel accused of "criminal and terrorist actions" against the government.

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We celebrate each reunion with their families and reiterate that the releases must continue until all unjustly detained persons are reached. Let them all be free. Freedom cannot stop.

Their release comes amid a process of prisoner exchanges and releases, reportedly involving negotiations promoted by the United States between the government and the opposition. The government announced 131 releases last Friday, though the opposition coalition, the Unitary Platform for Democracy (PUD), counted only 105 by Wednesday noon. The PUD insists on "massive, permanent, expeditious, public, and transparent liberation processes" and argues that over 460 "innocents" remain unjustly detained.

The NGO Foro Penal, which represents political prisoners in Venezuela, had confirmed 81 releases from Friday until Monday evening, but continues to verify further releases. The Venezuelan government consistently denies the existence of political prisoners, asserting that detainees were arrested for committing crimes, a claim rejected by opposition groups and human rights organizations.

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Only political will is needed, and nothing justifies that more than 460 innocents remain behind bars.