Venezuela has released 39 political prisoners after a second round of negotiations between interim president Delcy Rodriguez’s government and the opposition, in talks backed by Washington.
Human rights organisation Justicia, Encuentro y Perdon (JEP) said the detainees were freed from several prisons between Friday and Saturday. They included eight women accused of “narco-terrorism” in 2021 and six people accused of involvement with the United States in a 2020 attempt to overthrow former president Nicolas Maduro.
“We will remain vigilant and continue to demand full freedom for all those who are still waiting,” JEP said in a statement on X.
The negotiations took place on Friday with US approval, following Washington’s military removal of Mr Maduro in January. Ms Rodriguez, who served as Mr Maduro’s vice president, is leading the interim government.
The latest releases bring the number of people classified as political prisoners down to 344, according to rights group Foro Penal. Its figure, recorded on September 18, compares with 391 on August 10.
The government has also said it freed 131 people under a separate programme involving “alternative measures”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the time that more than 1,000 Venezuelans had been released since Mr Maduro’s removal, describing the move as “a crucial step” towards reconciliation.
A first round of talks in August addressed the recovery of Venezuelan funds frozen overseas, intended to support reconstruction after earthquakes in June that killed more than 6,300 people. The discussions also included reform of the judiciary.
Ms Rodriguez enacted an amnesty law in February under pressure from the United States, although rights groups say the release of detainees has proceeded slowly. Families of political prisoners have continued protesting outside the US embassy in Caracas and El Rodeo I prison, which rights organisations regard as a torture centre.
