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At least 104 people identified as political prisoners by a prominent Venezuelan human rights organization were released from detention on Sunday, marking a significant development in Venezuela’s ongoing political prisoner release process. The announcement was made by Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal, a leading Venezuelan rights group that has long monitored detentions linked to political dissent.
According to Romero, the individuals were freed from prisons located across multiple regions of the country, and additional releases were likely still underway. Posting on the social media platform X, Romero emphasized the need for transparency, stating that it would be ideal for the Venezuelan government to publish official lists confirming the names of those released. Such disclosure, he noted, would help verify the scope and credibility of the release process.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez previously stated on Friday that a total of 626 people had been released from prison. However, she did not clarify over what period these releases occurred or provide detailed information about the detainees. This lack of specificity has raised questions among human rights observers and international organizations monitoring the situation.
Before Sunday’s announcement, Foro Penal had only confirmed the release of 156 political prisoners since January 8, highlighting a discrepancy between official government figures and independent verification. The difference underscores ongoing concerns about accountability and accurate reporting in Venezuela’s justice system.
Rodríguez also announced that she is scheduled to speak on Monday with Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. During the call, she plans to request that the United Nations assist in verifying the lists of individuals released so far. The involvement of the U.N. could bring additional oversight and international validation to the process, which has been closely watched amid broader discussions about human rights conditions in the Andean nation.
The release of Venezuelan political prisoners remains a key issue for international diplomacy, human rights advocacy, and domestic political dialogue, as calls for transparency and independent verification continue to grow.
