The Venezuelan government on Sunday released several prominent opposition figures, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, after long politically motivated detentions, AP News reported.
Among those released was Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and close associate of Machado, who had spent more than eight months in detention in Caracas. Guanipa announced his release in a video posted on the social network X, saying there was much to discuss about the future of Venezuela.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support ContributeVenezuelan prisoner rights group Foro Penal confirmed the release of at least 30 people on Sunday. In addition to Guanipa, those released included Maria Oropeza, who live-streamed her arrest by military intelligence officers, and Machado's lawyer, Perkins Rocha.
The moves come as the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez is under increasing pressure to release hundreds of people who have been imprisoned for their political activities. The releases also followed a visit by representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Venezuela.
Rodríguez has supported an amnesty bill being discussed in the National Assembly, which aims to free thousands of political prisoners, in response to demands from the opposition and human rights organizations.
Machado welcomed the releases, posting on X: "Let's go for the freedom of Venezuela!", while opposition supporters expressed cautious optimism about the steps taken towards broader political dialogue and reconciliation.