Justicia, Encuentro y Perdon (JEP) says 39 political dissidents were freed from Venezuelan prisons between Friday and Saturday after a second round of Washington-backed talks between interim President Delcy Rodriguez's government and the opposition.
JEP said those released included eight women accused of “narco-terrorism” in 2021 and six people accused of working with the United States in a 2020 attempt to overthrow former President Nicolas Maduro. The group said it would continue demanding the release of those still detained.
The talks have been held with US approval since Washington’s military removal of Maduro in January. Foro Penal said 344 people remained classified as political prisoners as of September 18, down from 391 on August 10, when the government said it had freed 131 people under a separate “alternative measures” program. Rodriguez enacted an amnesty law in February under US pressure, but releases have been slow.
