Venezuela Frees Over 30 Detainees Amid Amnesty Push, Rights Groups Report
CARACAS, Feb 1 – In a significant development, Venezuelan authorities have released more than 30 individuals deemed political prisoners, the legal rights group Foro Penal confirmed on Sunday. The releases are part of a broader, though criticized, prisoner release process initiated by the government earlier this year.
The decision follows an announcement by interim President Delcy Rodriguez last Friday, who proposed an "amnesty law" for hundreds of detainees. Rodriguez also stated that the notorious Helicoide detention center in Caracas—a facility cited in a 2022 UN report for alleged torture, which the government denies—would be repurposed into a sports and social services complex.
Foro Penal reports that 344 individuals it classifies as political prisoners have been freed since the government announced a new series of releases in early January, with 33 of those occurring on Sunday. Government officials, who contest the term "political prisoner" and maintain those jailed were convicted of crimes, claim a much higher release figure of over 600, though this appears to include prisoners freed in prior years.
Among those released is prominent human rights activist Javier Tarazona, director of FundaRedes, an organization monitoring alleged abuses along the Venezuela-Colombia border. Tarazona, imprisoned since mid-2021 on charges of terrorism and conspiracy, was greeted by emotional family members. "After 1,675 days, four years and seven months, the day we've so wished for has arrived," his brother Jose Rafael Tarazona posted on social media. "The freedom of one is hope for all."
Analysis: The prisoner releases have gained momentum since January 8, a move analysts link to the U.S. capture of former President Nicolas Maduro and sustained international scrutiny. While welcomed by rights advocates, the pace and scope of the process remain contentious. Families and opposition figures argue releases are progressing too slowly and demand the expungement of charges against those they consider unjustly detained.
Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado continues to advocate for the release of her imprisoned allies. Several high-profile figures remain in custody, including opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa and lawyer Perkins Rocha.
The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest releases or the total number of prisoners slated for freedom.
Reactions & Commentary
"This is a long-overdue step, but it's a drop in the ocean. Each release is a victory for a family, but the machinery of political repression remains fully intact. Until we see the liberation of all political prisoners and a dismantling of the system that jailed them, these are just tactical concessions." – Carlos Mendez, Political Analyst based in Lima. (Sharply critical)
"Any release is positive and should be acknowledged. It creates a fragile opening for dialogue. We must support these incremental steps while continuing to push for broader reform and justice." – Dr. Elena Ruiz, Professor of International Law, Central University. (Cautiously optimistic)
"Seeing my father after months was indescribable. He is in good spirits. This gives us hope that others waiting for their loved ones will have the same joy soon. The process must not stop." – Ramon Guanipa, Son of detained opposition politician. (Personal, hopeful)
"The conversion of the Helicoide is a powerful symbolic gesture, but true justice requires accountability for the abuses that occurred there. Structural change, not just rebranding, is needed." – Sophie Clarke, Human Rights Advocate with Amnesty International. (Focused on accountability)