Venezuelan judge freed after 16 years, opposition leader celebrates 'end to injustice'

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado celebrated the definitive closure of Judge María Lourdes Afiuni's case and her full release, marking the end of what Machado described as 16 "tortuous years of injustice." Afiuni, long considered a political prisoner under the late President Hugo Chávez, received her freedom on Friday.

Machado expressed prayers for Afiuni's recovery and hope for her swift departure from the country for medical attention. "We continue fighting for the freedom of all, until the end," Machado stated on social media platform X.

Afiuni is currently hospitalized after experiencing symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, and high blood pressure. Medical examinations revealed three tumorous lesions in different parts of her body requiring immediate attention to prevent irreparable health consequences. Her family and legal representatives highlighted that while the case closure is a significant step, it does not erase the profound suffering and grave human rights violations she endured.

The case, which began in December 2009 when Afiuni granted bail to a banker, has been used as a regional warning about the misuse of the justice system for political retribution. Afiuni faced charges after Chávez accused her of facilitating the banker's escape. She spent time in prison, house arrest, and conditional release, with restrictions including a ban on speaking to the press and voting, and without a passport or political rights.

Her full freedom coincides with a period of political negotiation in Venezuela, promoted by the United States, aimed at a democratic transition. This development follows the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. authorities in January, which the current government refers to as a "new moment" for the country.