Post by : Badri Ariffin

Venezuela’s administration has freed another 88 detainees linked to the protests following July 2024's elections, marking this as the second major release within a fortnight. This action comes on the heels of an earlier release on December 26, resulting in a total of 187 individuals freed over the past two weeks.

An official statement from the government highlighted that these releases stem from a “thorough review process” initiated by President Nicolas Maduro. The administration noted this procedure is still active, focusing on reassessing cases of those arrested during the unrest post-election.

The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, a local non-profit, verified that at least 55 of the detainees were released, primarily from Tocoron prison in central Venezuela.

Nonetheless, some NGOs express doubts about the official counts, questioning the accuracy of the figures provided. Independent sources estimate around 900 political prisoners remain incarcerated, including many detained before the election.

The Venezuelan government argues it does not detain political prisoners, asserting that those in custody are individuals suspected of threatening national stability through unlawful actions. This position remains contentious, particularly among human rights advocates.

These prisoner releases occur amidst escalating pressure from the United States, where the Trump administration has called for President Maduro to step down. The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, targeted drug trafficking operations near Venezuela's coastline, and seized two oil tankers connected to the country, adding to the already fraught diplomatic relations.

#Global News