Venezuela Releases 87 Political Detainees After Election Protests

Mothers Committee in Defense of the Truth reports the release of 87 detainees from Tocorón prison following the 2024 election protests. These releases add to those reported on December 25, although rights organizations like Penal Forum have only verified approximately 60 individuals so far. Activists continue to demand a general amnesty from Nicolás Maduro as hundreds remain in custody or face ongoing trials with restrictive measures.The political crisis in Venezuela remains tense as Edmundo González Urrutia and the opposition continue to challenge the official results of the presidential race. Local organizations claim that over 2,400 people were originally arrested and accused of terrorism despite assertions of innocence from their families. The government maintains that all prisoners are held for punishable criminal acts and that the nation is free of political detainees.Relief for the released families is tempered by the fact that many of their loved ones still face legal constraints and mandatory check-ins with the judicial system. The committee stated that the resumption of these releases is the result of a year of constant mobilization and international pressure from popular organizations. Proponents of amnesty argue that full freedom is necessary to resolve the ongoing civil unrest and political deadlock in the country.