Although non-governmental organizations such as Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón, the Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth and the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLPP) have reported the release of between 60 and 75 people, the figures reviewed by Foro Penal indicate that there are still 902 people deprived of their freedom and classified as political prisoners in Venezuela, and 62 continue to be forcibly disappeared. In this regard, the Ministry of People’s Power for Corrections reported on Thursday that after the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, 99 citizens were released after being detained in connection with “acts of violence and incitement to hatred.”
According to the official statement published by the Ministry on its Instagram account, the decision to release this group of people is due to a detailed assessment process carried out by the government and the judicial system, during which each case was reviewed to examine the application of precautionary measures in accordance with Venezuelan legislation. According to the institutional part, the release is intended to demonstrate the state’s commitment to internal peace, dialogue and ensuring justice.
The media reported that the now released individuals were arrested for their alleged involvement in events classified as violence and promoting hatred that took place immediately after the presidential elections in which Nicolás Maduro was re-elected. These elections were marked by allegations of electoral fraud made by both parts of the opposition and various international actors.
According to the ministry, the measure aims to complete the permanent leadership of the Venezuelan President to ensure full respect for human rights in the country. The government agency added that the publication also reaches people who, when considering the statement, have become victims of political and media manipulations that have led them to “attack sovereignty, institutional stability and peaceful coexistence.”
According to the Ministry of Penitentiary Power, the release of the 99 prisoners comes at a time when Venezuela is facing an international scenario that it describes as an “imperialist siege” and “multilateral aggression.” In its statement, the ministry referred to tensions arising from the foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration, including incidents such as attacks on ships suspected of being involved in drug trafficking (“narco boats”), statements about intentions for future interventions in Venezuelan territory and the interception of sanctioned oil tankers in the country’s waters.
The Penitentiary Service assured that, despite external pressure, the Venezuelan government remains committed to ensuring adequate legal treatment and comprehensive care for those deprived of their liberty. In addition, he reiterated that the so-called Bolivarian government will continue its work to maintain peace, justice and protect sovereignty, underlining its position in the face of international issues and opposition actions after the elections.
As the media detailed, Caracas made the official announcement after several human rights groups reported release figures lower than the ministry’s official figures, in a context where the legitimacy of the electoral process remains contested at the national and international levels. The discrepancies between the government’s reports and the records of NGOs such as Foro Penal, which keeps an updated count of people detained and disappeared for political reasons, reflect the ongoing debate and political tensions following the presidential election.
According to the statement cited by the ministry, the release is presented as a concrete expression of a state policy aimed at addressing the political and social conflict following election day, which has led to mass demonstrations and arrests. The Government reiterates that the detailed examination of the cases led to the granting of precautionary measures within the current legal framework.
The ministry reported that this measure is part of a comprehensive policy of the executive branch aimed at countering the internal situation, which is under the influence of international pressure and actions of internal political sectors. The Venezuelan state claims that its judicial system offers guarantees and respect for legality, seeking to respond to sectors that have warned of alleged violations of fundamental rights and freedoms.
According to the tally prepared by Foro Penal and reported by various media outlets, the total number of people detained for political reasons in Venezuela remains high and the state of enforced disappearances of several dozen people continues to cause concern among relatives and national and international organizations working in the defense of human rights. The ministry emphasized in its message the validity of a prison policy that aims to combine security, respect for individual guarantees and the call for normalization of coexistence in the country, even amid the complex post-election situation.
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