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Venezuela Begins Political-Prisoner Releases as Independent Tallies Show Only Limited Freed

Rights groups press for a verified list, with hundreds still jailed.

Overview

  • The government signaled a "significant" release of detainees, while the opposition’s Plataforma Unificada reported 17 people freed without publishing names.
  • Foro Penal counted nine releases out of 811 political prisoners, and other NGOs cited roughly a dozen releases with total detentions estimated between 800 and 1,200.
  • Early releases named by NGOs include former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, activist Biagio Pilieri, and dual national Rocío San Miguel, who traveled to Madrid with four Spaniards.
  • Foro Penal also reported the release of Virgilio Valverde in Bolívar state and Didelis Corredor, as families kept vigil outside facilities such as El Rodeo I seeking information.
  • Opposition and human-rights groups urged authorities to accelerate the process and publish a complete, verifiable list detailing names, detention sites, and release conditions, following a government announcement reported to have come after U.S. pressure.