Venezuela released five prisoners, including well-known figures from the political opposition, who confirmed their release in the early hours of this Thursday (19). The action comes after an electoral agreement between the opposition and the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, so that elections for the country’s Presidency can be held in the second half of 2024.
On Wednesday (18), the government of United States President Joe Biden eased the sanctions imposed on the Venezuelan oil and gas industry when Donald Trump was president. The relief came in response to the electoral agreement reached and Washington’s demand that certain prisoners be released.
The US has given Maduro until the end of November to begin lifting bans on opposition presidential candidates and releasing “unjustly detained” political prisoners and Americans, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Reuters has contacted the US State Department but has not yet received a response.
The Venezuelan government has also not yet confirmed a list of names published on social media by Gerardo Blyde, the main opposition figure involved in negotiations with the government.
Blyde said that the following were released: journalist Roland Carreno, from the opposition Popular Will party, former parliamentarian Juan Requesens, from the Justiça Primeira party – who was under house arrest – and three others.
Blyde posted a photo of himself with Carreno that he said was taken in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.
Electoral agreement
Maduro’s government and the Venezuelan opposition reached an agreement on Tuesday (16) so that the 2024 presidential elections will be monitored internationally and held in the second half of the year.
However, the agreement did not cover the reinstatement of opposition candidates who were prevented from holding public office – including Maria Corina Machado, the favorite in the primaries on Sunday (22), when the opposition is expected to choose its candidate for 2024.
A senior State Department official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, threatened to reverse sanctions relief measures unless Maduro lifts the bans and releases prisoners.
Carreno, former director of operations for Popular Will, was arrested in October 2020 and was on trial on charges of conspiracy and terrorist financing.
Former deputy Requesens was under house arrest after spending more than two years in prison and was under investigation for the explosion of two drones at a 2018 event attended by Maduro.
For years, the opposition has asked the government to release more than 200 people who the NGO Foro Penal, recognized by the Organization of American States, considers to be political prisoners.
Several recent legal moves – including the sentencing of six protesters on conspiracy charges – have been seen by the opposition and civil rights groups as an effort to scare potential activists ahead of the elections.
A US State Department official said Wednesday that he expects the release of unjustly detained Americans in the near term. There are believed to be more than half a dozen American prisoners in Venezuela, several of them falling into this category.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
