DistantNews
Support us
🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

Venezuela government announces 131 releases after opposition talks

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Venezuela's government announced 131 individuals will receive alternative measures to pre-trial detention.
  • The announcement follows the first round of talks between the government and a sector of the opposition, promoted by the U.S.
  • Human rights groups are verifying how many of the released individuals are considered political prisoners.

The Venezuelan government has announced that 131 individuals will be granted alternative measures to pre-trial detention, a move that follows the initial round of dialogue between the government and a segment of the opposition. The announcement was made by Minister of Communication Miguel Pérez Pirela, who released a statement from the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, an entity established by acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

This development comes just two days after the conclusion of the first round of U.S.-promoted talks. The statement indicated that the courts agreed to these measures at the request of the Public Ministry, following an evaluation of legal situations for individuals facing charges or convicted of offenses related to actions against the state's institutional framework. The Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence reportedly requested a review of these cases.

The Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, created by the acting President (E) of the Republic, Delcy Rodríguez, reports the granting of alternative measures to deprivation of liberty for a total of 131 people who were under detention, for their alleged or proven participation in the commission of crimes provided for in Venezuelan legal order.

— Program for Peace and Democratic CoexistenceThe statement detailed the government's decision regarding the release of individuals.

"The Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, created by the acting President (E) of the Republic, Delcy Rodríguez, reports the granting of alternative measures to deprivation of liberty for a total of 131 people who were under detention, for their alleged or proven participation in the commission of crimes provided for in Venezuelan legal order," the statement reads. It further assures that the decisions were made by Venezuelan courts after the program requested an assessment of the legal status of those involved.

However, the Executive has not disclosed the identities of the 131 individuals benefiting from these measures, nor has it specified how many are recognized as political prisoners by human rights organizations. Several non-governmental organizations are currently verifying each case to determine the exact number of political prisoners released and the conditions of their freedom. This verification is crucial for assessing the full scope and impact of the government's announcement.

The referred measures were agreed upon by the courts of the Republic, at the request of the Public Ministry, after this Program requested the bodies of the Criminal Justice System to evaluate the legal situation of persons processed or convicted for crimes related to various attacks against democratic institutionalism, peace and the development of the Republic.

— Program for Peace and Democratic CoexistenceThe statement further explained the judicial process behind the alternative measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog