Venezuela releases "a significant number" of political prisoners, including five Spaniards

BarcelonaThe new government of Delcy Rodríguez has made a gesture to try to maintain some social peace. amid the climate of uncertainty And has released "a significant number" of political prisoners. The announcement was made by the Speaker of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, not by any negotiator from the Chavista regime. He described it as a "unilateral gesture" by the executive branch to "consolidate peace and peaceful coexistence" in the country. Among those released are five Spanish citizens, two of whom hold dual nationality, as confirmed by the Foreign Ministry, which added that they will travel to Spain in the coming hours. Minister José Manuel Albares considered it "a very positive step" by Venezuela's new interim president. Rodríguez—brother of the interim president—said that prisoners are already being released, although he did not specify the number or the conditions. According to the latest figures from the NGO Foro Penal, there were 806 political prisoners in Venezuela as of January 5. On January 1, two days before the US operation to kidnap Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan government released 80 prisoners, adding to a similar number released in late December, according to human rights groups. Most were people who had been imprisoned for participating in the post-election demonstrations of the summer of 2014, protesting Maduro's declared victory without the official results being published. Human rights groups say that most political prisoners have been charged with crimes such as terrorism, incitement to hatred, and conspiracy to overthrow the government, and that few have been convicted. Jorge Rodríguez has thanked former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and representatives in Qatar. He also stated that the government has not spoken with "any extremist sector," as the leaders of the main opposition blog are often referred to. "We speak with political institutions, political parties, and political organizations that respect and abide by what is established in the Constitution," he stated. "Consider this gesture by the Bolivarian government a broad intention to seek peace, as the contribution that we must all make to ensure that our republic continues its peaceful life and its pursuit of prosperity," the Speaker of Parliament affirmed in a press conference broadcast on state television. Hours earlier, Delcy Rodríguez had recalled that the Caribbean country "is experiencing very delicate moments for its political stability," following the "military aggression" by the US to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. who have been detained in a New York jail since Saturday

This Wednesday, the Venezuelan NGO Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness warned of a "pattern of hardening" against political prisoners and denounced the suspension of visits and the delivery of food and medicine. Venezuela's main opposition, grouped in the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD)—led by María Corina Machado, in exile—later published a statement urging the "immediate" release of all political prisoners. It also called for an end to the repression and the disarmament of "irregular groups that threaten peaceful coexistence." "There can be no talk of a democratic transition until these measures are implemented," it added.

Deaths during the US military operation.

Meanwhile, Caracas and Washington continue to withhold clear figures on the death toll from the US attack on Venezuela. Washington is not releasing them, while Caracas is increasing the numbers daily. This Thursday, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello asserted that at least 100 people died during the attack. Among the victims are military personnel, but also civilians, according to the Chavista government. "Venezuela has been the victim of an attack that has so far caused 100 deaths," Cabello said on his television program.Cone the hammer givingThe Interior Minister and second-in-command of Chavismo also pointed out that the attack caused "a similar number of injuries." Cabello asserted that in that "terrible thing," "people who had nothing to do with a conflict" died, among whom he mentioned "civilians, women who were in their homes" and who, he affirmed, "were hit by the extremely powerful bombs launched" by the United States against Venezuela. "The attack against our country was terrible, this is true, this is a fact, no one is going to cover it up," he added. In this context, the Interior Minister dedicated his program to the "noble and brave" people of Venezuela and to those he considered "martyrs and fallen heroes" of the US military operation.