The individuals were released in the early hours of Christmas Day, according to the government. The Maduro regime has consistently denied the existence of political prisoners in Venezuela. The 2024 election was widely believed to have been rigged by President Nicolás Maduro.
Civil society organizations reacted cautiously to the news, emphasizing that the releases were insufficient. These organizations estimate that at least 900 political prisoners remain in the country. They argue that the releases do not address the underlying issues of political repression and human rights violations.
The releases occurred amid increasing military pressure from the United States, though the specific nature of this pressure was not detailed by the Venezuelan government. Relations between the two countries have been strained for years, with the U.S. imposing sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities.
The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear what further steps the Venezuelan government will take regarding political prisoners. International human rights organizations continue to call for the release of all those detained for political reasons and for an end to political repression in Venezuela.
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