Venezuela releases over 100 political prisoners in latest prisoner swap

Venezuela Releases 116 Prisoners After Government Announces Their Release

The Venezuelan Ministry of Penitentiary Services has announced that at least 116 prisoners have been released from prison in the past few hours. The release comes nine days after the United States abducted President Nicolas Maduro, sparking global protests and criticism.

According to the ministry, those freed had been “deprived of their liberty for acts associated with disrupting the constitutional order and undermining the stability of the nation.” Two Italian citizens were also released, following a similar release that occurred a few days ago. The Italian Foreign Minister has pledged to upgrade Rome’s relations with Caracas in response.

Human rights groups have estimated that there are 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela. The releases come after pressure from US President Donald Trump, who stated that Washington was “in charge” of the Latin American country following the military operation on January 3 to abduct Maduro.

Trump had previously celebrated the release of the prisoners in a statement, saying that he hopes those freed “will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.” The Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience on Monday. Few details have been released about the meeting.

The Venezuelan government has not provided further information on the releases, but human rights groups have expressed concerns about the treatment of prisoners in Venezuela.

Source: Al Jazeera