Venezuela government releases 131 people detained for political reasons; U.S. calls move a step toward reconciliation
- Venezuelan authorities said 131 people detained for political reasons were released on Friday.
- Venezuela's Communications Ministry said the releases were ordered by courts at the request of the Public Ministry after a government peace and coexistence program asked for case reviews.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the releases a crucial step toward reconciliation and said 1,046 Venezuelans had been freed since Jan. 3.
- Venezuela has an amnesty law intended to support the release of opposition figures, union leaders, journalists, students, protesters, and human rights activists detained for political reasons.
- The Venezuelan government denies that it holds political prisoners, while Foro Penal said 391 people were still detained for political reasons as of Aug. 10.
Venezuelan authorities said Friday that 131 people detained for political reasons were released. The government said the releases were ordered by courts at the request of the Public Ministry after a review was sought through a government peace and coexistence program.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the release of more than 130 political prisoners was a crucial step toward reconciliation in Venezuela. He also said 1,046 Venezuelans had been released since Jan. 3.
The report said the releases come under a law of amnesty approved on Feb. 19 to support the release of opposition figures, union leaders, journalists, students, protesters and human rights activists detained for political reasons. Venezuela's government denies that it holds political prisoners.
Foro Penal, a civil rights group that monitors detainees in Venezuela, said 391 people remained held for political reasons as of Aug. 10.
委内瑞拉政府释放131名因政治原因被拘留者 美国称此举有助于和解
委内瑞拉当局周五表示，131名因政治原因被拘留者已获释。政府称，这些释放是由法院应检察机关请求下令执行，此前政府的和平与民主共处计划提出了案件审查要求。
美国国务卿鲁比奥在社交平台X上表示，超过130名政治犯获释是委内瑞拉迈向和解的关键一步。他还说，自1月3日以来已有1,046名委内瑞拉人获释。
报道指出，这些释放是在2月19日通过的一项大赦法框架下进行的，该法旨在推动释放因政治原因被拘留的反对派人士、工会领袖、记者、学生、抗议者和人权活动人士。委内瑞拉政府否认关押政治犯。
监督委内瑞拉被拘留者情况的民间组织 Foro Penal 表示，截至8月10日，仍有391人因政治原因被关押。