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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

Venezuelan opposition delegate: Delegation working hard to free all political prisoners

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A Venezuelan opposition delegate stated that the 2015 National Assembly delegation is working to free all political prisoners.
  • While welcoming the release of 131 individuals, the delegate called the number insufficient and insisted all political prisoners are innocent.
  • The release of prisoners was not initially on the dialogue agenda but became a key demand, attributed to efforts by the AN 2015 president.

Ramón López, a deputy and member of the 2015 National Assembly delegation involved in U.S.-facilitated dialogue, asserted that the commission is diligently working towards the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela. He emphasized that the goal is to ensure "not a single political prisoner remains in Venezuela."

It is not enough. The prisons must be opened for everyone.

— Ramón LópezVenezuelan deputy Ramón López commenting on the release of 131 political prisoners.

López expressed happiness regarding the government's announcement of 131 prisoner releases but cautioned that this figure does not meet the delegation's objective. "It is not enough. The prisons must be opened for everyone," he stated, reiterating his belief that all political prisoners are innocent. He explained that while the issue of political prisoners was not initially part of the dialogue agenda or the signed agreement, it emerged as a crucial demand within the process.

He attributed Friday's releases to the significant efforts of Dinorah Figuera, the president of the 2015 National Assembly, in her mediation with the U.S. government and Venezuelan officials. López stressed that national dialogue cannot occur without the full liberation of all political prisoners. He argued that this should be a fundamental right, not a bargaining chip for other negotiations.

No dialogue can take place if all political prisoners are not fully released. And today 131 are released. Our work must focus on all of them being released.

— Ramón LópezVenezuelan deputy Ramón López emphasizing the need for the release of all political prisoners.

The government's Ministry of Communication and Information confirmed the releases, stating that 131 individuals would receive "alternative measures to deprivation of liberty." These measures were reportedly agreed upon by the courts following a request from the Public Ministry to evaluate the legal status of individuals processed or convicted for offenses against democratic institutions, peace, and national development.

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 tirelessly until every citizen is reunited with their family.

— Dinorah FigueraPresident of the 2015 National Assembly Dinorah Figuera celebrating the prisoner releases.
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.

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