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Venezuela Frees 29 Political Prisoners During Second Dialogue Round
Venezuelan authorities released approximately 30 political prisoners, including eight women, coinciding with the second round of US-sponsored dialogue in Caracas.
Venezuelan authorities released a new batch of political detainees on Friday and Saturday, according to human rights organizations. The releases occurred simultaneously with the second round of dialogue between the government and opposition factions in Caracas.
Verified Release Numbers
Nearly 30 individuals departed from various detention centers, per reports from AFP. Among those freed were eight women who had been charged with "drug-related terrorism" in 2021. The non-governmental organization Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (Justice, Encounter, and Forgiveness) confirmed via the X platform that it directly verified the release of 29 people.
Dialogue Progress and Remaining Detainees
The second round of talks, sponsored by the United States, took place ten months after the detention of Nicolás Maduro. Both sides reported progress regarding judicial reform during these negotiations. The opposition had pledged to prioritize the liberation of all political prisoners.
Despite an amnesty law and hundreds of prior releases, the latest tally from the NGO Foro Penal, dated September 18, indicated that 344 political prisoners remained incarcerated. The organization had not updated its count as of Saturday.
Operation Gideon Cases
Six of the confirmed releases involved individuals accused in connection with "Operation Gideon." This failed 2020 incursion aimed at overthrowing Maduro was followed by a widespread arrest campaign.
Ongoing Protests
Families of inmates continued protesting in the streets. Relatives also maintained overnight sit-ins near the US Embassy in Venezuela and outside El Rodeo 1 prison. Human rights groups characterize El Rodeo 1 as a center for torture.
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