Venezuela political prisoners face structural risks post-earthquakes, group warns

The Venezuelan organization Justicia Encuentro y Perdón (JEPVzla) has raised alarms regarding the precarious situation of 518 political prisoners in Venezuela, whose vulnerability has been significantly heightened by recent earthquakes. The organization warns that the structural integrity of detention facilities, combined with a lack of adequate emergency protocols, poses a severe risk to those incarcerated.

JEPVzla highlighted in a statement on X that the number of political prisoners reflects a systematic persecution across various sectors of the country. The recent seismic activity has amplified concerns about safety within detention centers, citing deteriorating infrastructure, communication limitations, and the absence of effective evacuation mechanisms. "The emergency and the serious structural risk derived from the tremors expose an undeniable truth: the vulnerability behind bars is total," the organization stated.

The human rights group emphasized that detainees face heightened risks due to communication isolation and the lack of protocols to ensure a rapid response to potential damage from further seismic activity. JEPVzla is demanding immediate attention for the most critical cases and humanitarian measures for individuals with delicate health conditions.

Specifically, the organization pointed to the urgent need for specialized medical assistance and potential release for 38 political prisoners suffering from serious illnesses and 20 elderly detainees. JEPVzla argues that maintaining the confinement of these vulnerable individuals during a seismic emergency is not merely custody but "unacceptable cruelty." The group reiterated its call for the release of political prisoners as a necessary step toward national reconciliation.