Rights group leader says at least 80 political prisoners released in Venezuela

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox

Former detainee Carlos Andres Perez hugs a relative after being released from prison outside the "El Libertador" prison complex in Tocuyito, Venezuela, on Jan 25.

Former detainee Carlos Andres Perez hugging a relative after being released from prison outside the “El Libertador” prison complex in Venezuela on Jan 25.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Google Preferred Source badge

CARACAS – At least 80 people considered political prisoners by a leading Venezuelan rights group had been released on Jan 25 as

part of an ongoing release process

, according to the leader of the group.

The people were released from prisons across the country and more releases were likely taking place, Mr Alfredo Romero, the director of Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal, said on X.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Jan 23 that 626 people have been released from prison, yet she did not specify the timeline of the reported releases.

Foro Penal, however, before Jan 25 had confirmed the release of just 156 political prisoners in Venezuela since Jan 8.

Ms Rodriguez said that she is due to have a call on Jan 26 with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to ask the UN to verify the lists of those released so far in the Andean nation. REUTERS

See more on