Venezuela has released at least 60 people detained after protests over President Nicolás Maduro’s disputed re-election, the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners said. The releases began early on Thursday during the Christmas period, but rights groups warn that hundreds remain detained. NGOs report roughly 2,400 people were arrested after the July vote; about 1,900–2,000 have been freed, while Foro Penal says at least 902 political prisoners remain. Many of the recently released were reportedly held at Tocorón prison in Aragua.
Venezuela Frees Dozens Detained After Protests, But Hundreds Remain Behind Bars
A man holds a candle and a sign asking for the release of his brother during a vigil called by the opposition demanding freedom for political prisoners arrested during a protest following the contested re-election of Maduro in Caracas [File: Yuri Cortez/AFP]
Venezuelan authorities have released at least 60 people detained during protests that followed President Nicolás Maduro’s disputed re-election in July 2024, according to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners. Rights groups say the releases began early on Thursday during the Christmas period, though hundreds of others remain in custody.
What Authorities and Campaigners Say
The Committee — a group of activists and relatives of detainees — welcomed the move but stressed it falls short of full justice. "We celebrate the release of more than 60 Venezuelans, who should never have been arbitrarily detained," committee leader Andreina Baduel told AFP.
"Although they are not entirely free, we will continue working for their full freedom and that of all political prisoners."
Context And Numbers
Maduro secured a third term in the July 2024 vote, a result that some opposition groups rejected amid allegations of fraud. The disputed outcome sparked weeks of demonstrations during which security forces detained roughly 2,400 people; rights groups say about 1,900–2,000 of those arrested have since been released.
Despite the latest round of releases, the monitoring NGO Foro Penal reports that at least 902 people remain classified as political prisoners in Venezuela.
Detention Locations And Unanswered Questions
Relatives said many of the newly freed detainees had been held at Tocorón, a maximum-security prison in Aragua state about 134 km (83 miles) from Caracas. Government officials have not publicly clarified the terms, conditions or legal basis for the releases.
Background note: Andreina Baduel’s father, Raúl Isaías Baduel — a former defence minister and one-time ally of the late president Hugo Chávez — died in custody in 2021, a case that remains a focal point for critics of Venezuela’s handling of political detainees.
