Posted by: Rafael Salido &AP
Release date
Relatives of imprisoned opposition leaders, activists and journalists in Venezuela held vigils for a second night outside several prisons in the country awaiting further releases, as the government began releasing a small number of detainees about a week after President Nicolas Maduro was captured by the US military.
Candles were lit outside El Helicoide, the Venezuelan intelligence agency’s headquarters and detention center in Caracas, and at Rodeo I Prison in Guatile, as relatives and friends called for the release of their loved ones.
Despite promises made by the government, many have complained about the lack of official information and slow progress on the promised release.
An initial announcement by Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez referred to the release of a “significant number” of detainees, but did not provide further details.
However, a local human rights group said only nine people had been released, representing just over 1% of the nationals and foreigners it holds in the country for political reasons. According to the NGO Foro Penar, there are currently 811 political prisoners in the country.
Meanwhile, in Washington, US President Donald Trump praised the Rodriguez administration’s response, saying the release was based on the government’s request.
So far, the Venezuelan government has not published an official list of the names of those released, and their families continue to wait at the prison gates in fear and anticipation.
