Venezuelan rights group JEP said 39 political dissidents were freed from prisons between Friday and Saturday, as interim President Delcy Rodriguez's government and the opposition held a second round of negotiations.
The reported releases included eight women accused of “narco-terrorism” in 2021. Six people freed were accused of working with the United States in an attempt to overthrow Nicolas Maduro in 2020.
Foro Penal, an NGO that defends political prisoners, counted 344 in Venezuela as of September 18. Rodriguez enacted an amnesty law in February under US pressure, but releases have been slow. Families have continued protesting outside the US embassy and El Rodeo I prison, which NGOs consider a torture center. JEP said it would keep demanding freedom for those still detained.
