Venezuela frees dozens of political prisoners, human rights group says

A leading Venezuelan human rights group, Foro Penal, reports that at least 80 political prisoners have been released in Venezuela, allegedly due to pressure from the US following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro on drug-trafficking charges. The releases occurred on Saturday from prisons across the country, with Foro Penal verifying identities and anticipating more releases. Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez claims over 600 prisoners have been freed, a figure disputed by Foro Penal, which has only confirmed 156 releases since January 8th. Many of those released remain in legal limbo with charges not dropped and restrictions on public speaking. Rodriguez is scheduled to speak with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to verify release lists, while human rights groups accuse the government of using detentions to silence critics, a claim the Venezuelan government denies.

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