Venezuela frees 131 more political prisoners as US-backed talks advance

Venezuela on Friday, August 14, released another 131 people considered political prisoners, which points to progress in national reconciliation talks following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces, AFP reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the prisoner releases as an “important step in the national reconciliation process.”

“Since January 3, 1,046 Venezuelans have been released,” Rubio said.

Human rights organisation Foro Penal, which has campaigned for the release of people recognised as political prisoners, reported the release of six women, including one of those accused of involvement in a plot to assassinate Maduro. The organisation later confirmed the release of “at least 45 political prisoners.”

The first round of U.S.-mediated talks began last week and concluded on Wednesday. In a joint statement, the sides said they had agreed to work on the return of assets frozen abroad to help address the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in June that killed more than 6,300 people. They also agreed to work on reforming Venezuela’s judicial system.

The issue of political prisoners was not directly mentioned in the final communiqué.

Maduro, who had governed Venezuela since 2013 using increasingly authoritarian methods, had regularly faced criticism over the detention of political opponents and activists on what critics described as fabricated charges of plotting coups.

In the first weeks after Maduro was captured by U.S. special forces in early January, an interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez, under intense pressure from Washington, authorised the release of hundreds of prisoners. In February, Rodriguez also secured parliamentary passage of a historic amnesty law.

By Tamilla Hasanova