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Relatives of jailed opposition leaders, activists and journalists in Venezuela held a second night of vigils outside several prisons in the country, awaiting further releases after the government began releasing a small number of detainees nearly a week after President Nicolás Maduro was captured by US forces.
Candles were lit outside El Helicoide, El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service and detention center, in Caracas, and also at the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, where relatives and friends called for their loved ones to be set free.
Many have voiced their frustration over the lack of official information and the slow progress of the promised releases, despite the pledge made by the government.
The initial announcement, delivered by Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, mentioned the release of a “significant number” of detainees, without providing further details.
However, a local human rights group said only nine people had been released, which amounts to just over 1% of the citizens and foreigners it says are detained in the country for political reasons. According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are currently 811 political prisoners in the country.
Meanwhile in Washington, US President Donald Trump stated that the releases were made at the request of his government and commended the handling of Rodríguez’s administration.
So far, the Venezuelan government has not published an official list with the names of those released, leaving families waiting at prison gates in continued uncertainty and anticipation.