Venezuelan authorities have released 11 prisoners as of Saturday, following a government pledge on Thursday to free a significant number of detainees. The releases come as families gathered for a third consecutive day outside prisons in Caracas and other communities, seeking information about potential releases.
Diógenes Angulo, detained for a year and five months, was among those freed. Angulo was arrested two days before the 2024 presidential election after posting a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez. Upon his release from a prison in San Francisco de Yare, approximately an hour's drive south of Caracas, Angulo expressed gratitude and hope for the release of other detainees. "Thank God, I’m going to enjoy my family again," he told The Associated Press, adding that those still detained are well and have high hopes of being released soon.
The government's pledge to release prisoners follows ongoing scrutiny of Venezuela's human rights record and calls for the release of political prisoners. However, the slow pace of releases has drawn criticism, with over 800 individuals remaining in detention, including the son-in-law of an opposition presidential candidate.
The releases occur amidst a complex political landscape in Venezuela, marked by ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition. The detention of individuals linked to the opposition has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that these detentions are politically motivated.
While the government describes the releases as a sign of progress, concerns remain about the large number of individuals still in custody. The situation is further complicated by recent reports that former President Nicolás Maduro was allegedly captured by U.S. forces Jan. 3 in a nighttime raid in the capital, according to Angulo. The circumstances surrounding this alleged event remain unclear.
The international community continues to monitor the situation in Venezuela, with various organizations calling for transparency and due process in the handling of detainees' cases. Further developments are expected as families and advocates await further releases and clarity on the overall situation of prisoners in Venezuela.
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