Venezuela frees opposition members in post-Maduro prisoner releases
Venezuela’s government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions. Their releases come as the government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez faces mounting pressure to free hundreds of people whose detentions months or years ago…
Venezuela’s government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions.
Their releases come as the government of acting President Delcy Rodriguez faces mounting pressure to free hundreds of people whose detentions months or years ago have been linked to their political beliefs. They also follow a visit to Venezuela of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president after the January 3 capture in Caracas of then-President Nicolas Maduro by the US military. Her government began releasing prisoners days later.
“I am convinced that our country has completely changed,” Juan Pablo Guanipa, a Machado ally and former governor, told reporters hours after his release. “I am convinced that it is now up to all of us to focus on building a free and democratic country.”
Guanipa, who spent more than eight months in custody, was released from a detention facility in the capital, Caracas. An armoured vehicle and officers appeared behind him in the video he released.
Venezuelan-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people on Sunday.
