Venezuela releases over 60 political prisoners amid festive amnesty

Venezuelan authorities released at least 60 individuals who had been detained during 2024 protests against President Nicolás Maduro’s reelection, a human rights non-governmental organization reported.

The demonstrations erupted in the aftermath of Maduro securing a third term in the July 2024 elections, amid widespread accusations of electoral fraud. Some 2,400 people were initially arrested during the protests, though nearly 2,000 have since been released, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to the latest count by Foro Penal, a local human rights NGO, Venezuela still holds at least 902 political prisoners.

The most recent releases began early on Christmas Day, the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners—a coalition of rights activists and relatives of political detainees—reported.

“We celebrate the release of more than 60 Venezuelans, who should never have been arbitrarily detained,” committee head Andreina Baduel said. “Although they are not entirely free, we will continue working for their full freedom and that of all political prisoners.”

The specific conditions of the prisoners’ release remain unclear.

According to relatives’ accounts, the released detainees were held at the Tocoron maximum-security prison in Aragua state, approximately 134 kilometres (83 miles) from the capital, Caracas.

“We must remember that there are more than 1,000 families with political prisoners,” Baduel added.

By Vafa Guliyeva