Venezuela releases 39 political prisoners after Washington-backed talks
Thirty-nine political dissidents have been released from Venezuelan prisons after a second round of talks between the interim government and opposition, according to rights group JEP. The releases include women accused of narco-terrorism and people accused of involvement in a US-backed coup attempt.
Venezuela has released 39 political dissidents after a second round of talks between the interim government and opposition, a human rights group said. Justicia, Encuentro y Perdon said the prisoners were freed from various prisons between Friday and Saturday. Those released included eight women accused of narco-terrorism in 2021 and six people accused of working with the United States in a 2020 attempt to overthrow former President Nicolas Maduro.
The negotiations were held on Friday with US approval. They followed Washington’s military removal of Maduro in January and involved the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who had been Maduro’s vice president, and the opposition. JEP said it would continue pressing for the release of all political prisoners.
The group did not say whether the 39 people had been fully cleared of the accusations against them or released under conditions. Rights group Foro Penal said 344 people remained classified as political prisoners as of September 18, down from 391 on August 10. The government had separately said it freed 131 people under an alternative-measures programme.
A first round of talks in August focused on recovering Venezuelan funds frozen overseas, supporting recovery from earthquakes that killed more than 6,300 people in June, and reforming the judiciary. The releases followed an amnesty law enacted by Rodriguez in February under US pressure. Families of detainees have continued protesting outside the US embassy in Caracas and El Rodeo I prison, which rights groups regard as a torture centre.
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