Venezuela frees political prisoners in U.S.-brokered reconciliation move
Venezuela’s interim government released 131 people considered political prisoners on Friday as part of a U.S.-brokered reconciliation process following the January 3 ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro by American forces. The releases came under the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, with authorities describing the measures as “alternative to incarceration,” which could include house arrest .
Families gathered outside El Rodeo I prison in Guatire, 50 kilometers east of Caracas, where emotional reunions were observed by AFP reporters. Among those freed were 17 women, including one accused of involvement in an alleged assassination plot against Maduro, according to the Foro Penal rights group .
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the releases “a crucial step for the nation’s reconciliation process” in a post on X. He noted that 1,046 Venezuelans have been freed since Maduro’s removal on January 3 . The country is now governed by Maduro’s former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, with significant U.S. influence.
Opposition movement Vente Venezuela independently verified the release of 43 detainees, while Foro Penal confirmed “at least 40.” The group had previously reported 391 political prisoners remained in custody as of August 10 .
Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa welcomed the releases but demanded the immediate freedom of all political prisoners. “Each person returning home is an immense relief for families who have suffered too much,” he wrote on X, adding that Venezuela must “close forever the door of torture centers” .
The releases follow the first round of U.S.-mediated talks between the government and opposition, which concluded on Wednesday. The discussions resulted in an agreement to initiate judicial reforms and collaborate on accessing frozen international funds to aid recovery from June earthquakes that killed over 6,300 people .
Opposition leader Dinorah Figuera, who heads the delegation in negotiations, had pushed for the releases during the talks. The interim government’s communications minister, Miguel Ángel Pérez Pirela, announced the measures but did not specify their exact nature .
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⚡ NEWSVenezuela Releases 131 Political Prisoners Amid Post-Maduro TalksVenezuela has freed 131 political prisoners, granting them alternative sentences to imprisonment. The US welcomed the release as a crucial step for national reconciliation, occurring during ongoing talks regarding the post-Maduro political landscape.📰 #USA #Geopolitics #GeoWire
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