More than 80 political prisoners were released
across Venezuela on Sunday, human rights group Foro Penal says — part of
an ongoing process under the country’s interim government that could see
further releases in the coming days
According to Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero,
the NGO is verifying the identities of those freed at prisons nationwide and
noted that the figure being reported is not final and may rise as
verifications continue.
Foro Penal attorney Gonzalo Himiob said the
releases occurred in the early hours of the morning, underscoring the
group’s efforts to confirm details before issuing final totals.
The interim government, led by Delcy Rodriguez —
who assumed power following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by
U.S. special forces earlier this month — has pledged to free a “large
number” of opponents of the previous administration still detained in jails.
Official figures from Venezuelan authorities suggest
that 626 detainees have been released since December, though independent
human rights tallies indicate only about half that number have so far
been confirmed by Foro Penal.
Political opposition groups and rights organisations
have criticised the process for unfolding slowly and without sufficient
transparency, with families of detainees continuing to wait outside prisons
in hopes of news about their loved ones’ release.
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