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Venezuela opposition demands release of all political prisoners after partial amnesty
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Venezuela opposition demands release of all political prisoners after partial amnesty

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Venezuela's opposition leader Dinorah Figuera demanded the release of all political prisoners following the government's announcement of 131 releases.
  • Figuera welcomed the releases but stressed that "they are not all" and called for continued demands until everyone is free.
  • The NGO Foro Penal confirmed 45 releases and urged the process to continue until no political prisoners remain.

Dinorah Figuera, the lead negotiator for Venezuela's opposition in dialogue with the government, has called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in the country. This demand comes after the Venezuelan government announced the liberation of 131 individuals previously detained on political grounds.

Figuera, a former legislator, reacted to the news on social media platform X, stating, "With hope for the reunion of Venezuelan families, we receive the information about the releases. They are not all, and they deserve full freedom; let's continue demanding without rest until every citizen is reunited with their family." Her statement came just two days after the conclusion of the first cycle of U.S.-backed dialogue talks.

The Venezuelan government explained that the recent releases were "agreed upon by the tribunals of the republic, at the request of the Public Ministry." This action followed a request for case evaluations by the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, established by acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

With hope for the reunion of Venezuelan families, we receive the information about the releases. They are not all, and they deserve full freedom; let's continue demanding without rest until every citizen is reunited with their family.

— Dinorah FigueraReacting to the government's announcement of prisoner releases while emphasizing the need for all political prisoners to be freed.

As of Friday afternoon, the NGO Foro Penal, which advocates for political prisoners, had confirmed 45 of the releases. The organization reiterated its call for the process to continue, stating, "this process should not end until there is not a single political prisoner behind bars." Foro Penal reported that as of the previous Monday, there were 391 detainees, comprising 228 civilians and 163 military personnel.

Beyond Figuera and Foro Penal, numerous political and human rights organizations, along with opposition lawmakers, are echoing the demand for the freedom of all political detainees. The releases have occurred at detention centers such as the National Institute for Female Guidance (INOF) and Rodeo I, located near Caracas. Figuera had previously committed to working towards more releases in the "coming days" after meeting with families of political prisoners.

this process should not end until there is not a single political prisoner behind bars.

— Foro PenalUrging the continuation of the release process until all political detainees are freed.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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