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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Crime & Justice

Venezuelan relatives mark 138 days demanding release of political prisoners

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Relatives of political prisoners in Venezuela are marking 138 days of protest outside El Helicoide prison.
  • They demand the immediate release of detainees, accusing the government of breaking its promise to free 300 political prisoners.
  • The protest continues until all political prisoners are released, with families urging broader public support.

Relatives of political prisoners in Venezuela have maintained a 138-day vigil outside the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas. On Tuesday, May 27, they released a video message directly addressing Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, and Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly. They demanded the immediate release of all political detainees.

More than 96 hours of delay, cynicism, and broken promises. Enough using our relatives as bargaining chips. Fulfill your promise.

— A man participating in the videoHe is speaking about the government's failure to release political prisoners as promised.

The families highlighted the government's failure to fulfill its promise to release 300 political prisoners by May 22, with only 43 freed by Tuesday. "More than 96 hours of delay, cynicism, and broken promises. Enough using our relatives as bargaining chips. Fulfill your promise," one man stated in the video.

The mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts, and wives have shown that our dignity does not break. We await you at home.

— A womanShe is expressing the protesters' resolve to continue their vigil until all political prisoners are freed.

Protesters vowed to continue their vigil until every political prisoner is freed. "The mothers, fathers, siblings, aunts, and wives have shown that our dignity does not break. We await you at home," a woman declared. The mother of a detainee from the "Gedeones" case urged Jorge Rodríguez to stop lying and mocking them, calling for the freedom of prisoners from various facilities including Guaicaipuro, Helicoide, and Ramo Verde.

We want the freedom of all political prisoners: Guaicaipuro, the 32 Gedeones, Helicoide, Crisálidas, Rodeo 1, Rodeo 2, Yare, Tocorón, Ramo Verde... All political prisoners freedom now!

— The mother of a political prisoner from the Gedeón caseShe is urging Jorge Rodríguez to stop lying and demanding the release of specific political prisoners.

One relative appealed to all Venezuelans to join their struggle, stating it is not just about political prisoners but "for the freedom of all of Venezuela." The video concluded with a collective plea to Delcy Rodríguez to release all those held for political reasons. As of May 25, the Foro Penal organization reported 409 political prisoners, including 375 men and 34 women, with 39 foreign nationals among them.

Join this fight, which is not only for the freedom of our political prisoners, it is for the freedom of all of Venezuela.

— A relative of a political prisonerShe is calling on all Venezuelans to support the protest for political prisoners' freedom.
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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