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5h ago

Venezuela Claims 116 Political Prisoners Freed as NGOs Confirm Far Fewer

Independent monitors verify only a fraction of the cases, highlighting opaque procedures.

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Die Regierung in Venezuela hat die Freilassung von 116 politischen Gefangenen bekanntgegeben. Die Opposition und Menschenrechtsgruppen gehen aber von deutlich weniger Freilassungen aus. Die Freilassungen erfolgen auf Druck von US-Präsident Trump.
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Overview

  • The Ministry for Penitentiary Affairs reported 116 releases of people jailed for offenses tied to the “constitutional order,” after previously citing 187 releases in December.
  • Human-rights groups published smaller verified counts—Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón confirmed 53 cases and Foro Penal listed 41—saying verification remains ongoing.
  • Italian citizens Alberto Trentini and Mario Burlò were confirmed safe at Italy’s embassy in Caracas, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saying a plane from Rome was en route to repatriate them.
  • Families maintained vigils outside prisons including El Helicoide as NGOs criticized slow implementation, scarce information, and alleged mistreatment of detainees.
  • Officials cast the move as a peace gesture after vague promises of mass releases last week, with coverage linking the timing to U.S. pressure following Jan. 3 and the UN inquiry criticizing the sluggish pace.