Venezuela Prisoner Demands
Venezuelan Opposition and NGOs Demand Full Release of All Political Prisoners
Venezuela's opposition and human rights groups are demanding the release of all remaining political prisoners, even after the government freed an undisclosed number of detainees in recent days. Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader María Corina Machado said "absolutely everyone, civilians and military, must be freed now," according to El Periódico.
Activists warn that hundreds of political prisoners remain behind bars despite the partial releases. The calls come as international pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro continues to grow over its detention of opponents, protesters, and military personnel.
Machado Calls for Full and Immediate Liberation
María Corina Machado did not mince words after the partial releases. "Absolutely all of them, civilians and military, must be freed now," she said, according to Levante EMV. Her statement made clear she views any partial release as insufficient. The opposition has long argued that Venezuela holds hundreds of people purely for political reasons.
Machado has been one of the most prominent voices against the Maduro government. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in leading Venezuela's democratic opposition. Her demand applies not only to civilian activists but also to military members detained for alleged disloyalty or dissent, El Periódico de Aragón reported.
NGOs Warn Hundreds of Prisoners Still Behind Bars
Human rights organizations say the recent releases are far from enough. Activists confirm that hundreds of people remain in Venezuelan prisons for political reasons, according to Diario Córdoba. These include protesters arrested after the disputed July 2024 presidential election, in which Maduro claimed victory despite widespread fraud allegations.
Venezuelan NGOs have tracked political detentions for years. Groups like Foro Penal have documented thousands of cases since 2014. Rights groups say many detainees are held without fair trials, in poor conditions, and cut off from their families, La Provincia noted.
Post-Election Crackdown Swelled Prison Numbers
The number of political prisoners surged after Venezuela's July 28, 2024 presidential election. The opposition said Edmundo González won. Maduro claimed victory. Mass protests followed. Security forces arrested hundreds of demonstrators, according to El Correo Web. International observers and foreign governments rejected the official results.
The crackdown drew sharp global condemnation. Several countries imposed new sanctions on Venezuelan officials. The United States, European Union, and regional governments called for the release of all those detained in connection with the election protests, Información reported.
Pressure Mounts but Maduro Offers No Full Amnesty
Despite the recent partial releases, Maduro has not announced a broad amnesty. The government has not confirmed how many people were freed or why they were selected. This lack of transparency has frustrated opposition groups and international observers, according to LNE.
The opposition and rights groups say they will keep pushing until every political prisoner walks free. Machado's message was direct: partial gestures are not enough. Until the last detainee is released, they say, Venezuela cannot claim any real political opening, El Día reported.
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