Overview
- The penitentiary ministry reported 88 releases tied to post–July 28, 2024 unrest, with most detainees held at Tocorón prison in Aragua.
- Justicia Encuentro y Perdón said only 33 releases actually occurred, while Foro Penal indicated it was still verifying the government’s claim.
- Those freed remain under precautionary measures that include 30‑day court presentations, a ban on leaving Venezuela, and prohibitions on media or social‑media statements and contact with one another.
- Authorities described the cases as involving crimes committed during “violent actions by extremist sectors” after the electoral process.
- Rights groups say hundreds remain jailed—Foro Penal counts more than 700—and note a Christmas claim of 99 releases yielded 61 actual frees, a pattern many observers view as tactical as tensions with the United States escalate.