Venezuela has released 39 political prisoners following a second round of negotiations between the country’s interim government and the opposition, backed by the United States.
Human rights organisation Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP) said the 39 political dissidents were released between Friday and Saturday from several prisons across the country.
Among those released were eight women accused of “narco-terrorism” in 2021, as well as six people accused of collaborating with the United States in a 2020 attempt to overthrow former President Nicolás Maduro.
The releases came after a second round of talks held on Friday between the government of interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, and opposition representatives.
The negotiations have been taking place with US approval following Washington’s military removal of Maduro in January.
A first round of talks in August focused on recovering Venezuelan funds frozen abroad to support the country’s recovery from June’s earthquakes, which killed more than 6,300 people, as well as reforms to the judiciary.
Rodríguez introduced an amnesty law in February under pressure from the United States, although rights groups say the release of prisoners has progressed slowly.
According to Foro Penal, a rights organisation monitoring political detentions, 344 people remained classified as political prisoners as of September 18, down from 391 on August 10.
Meanwhile, families of political prisoners have continued protests outside the US embassy in Caracas and El Rodeo I prison, which rights groups have described as a torture centre.
JEP said it would continue demanding the release of those still detained.
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