Venezuelan opposition counts 75 releases, demands mass liberation

Venezuela's largest opposition coalition, the Unitary Democratic Platform (PUD), reports that 75 individuals have been released from detention, following the government's announcement of freeing 131 people. The PUD's count, as of Saturday afternoon, also includes a demand for "massive, permanent, expeditious, public and transparent" release processes to ensure the freedom of all political prisoners.

According to the PUD, "political will" is the only requirement for universal freedom, and "nothing justifies that more than 485 innocents still remain behind bars." PUD leader Edmundo González Urrutia welcomed the releases but cautioned that they do not erase the suffering of the individuals and their families, calling for accountability.

The opposition party Primero Justicia, a member of the PUD, has requested the Venezuelan government to publish a list of those released, a demand echoed by human rights organizations and families of political prisoners in previous release processes. The NGO Foro Penal, which represents many political prisoners, confirmed 72 releases by Saturday morning, though it continues to verify additional cases.

Foro Penal's vice president, Gonzalo Himiob, advised caution, stating it is "most prudent" to wait for the released individuals to appear in court to understand the terms of their freedom. Opposition leaders and human rights groups continue to call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, whom Foro Penal estimates number over 390. The Venezuelan government denies holding political prisoners, asserting that all detainees were arrested for committing crimes.