Dinorah Figuera, head of the opposition delegation in talks with the Venezuelan government, asked on Sunday for clarity over the number of prisoner releases announced in recent days. The government reported 131 releases last Friday, while Foro Penal confirmed 78 and the organisation Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness) counted 82.
"There is an urgent need for clarity regarding official figures, in contrast with what has been verified by human rights organisations monitoring the process," Figuera said on her X account. The opposition figure said she remained vigilant to ensure the releases take place, which she considered "a great national demand".
Figuera stressed that "in a country advancing towards democratic transition there should be no political prisoners" and demanded "that all political prisoners be released and that such release be complete". Foro Penal kept the figure of 78 verified releases updated from Friday until 9:30am on Sunday local time, according to the organisation's vice-president director Gonzalo Himiob, although he clarified that they continued verifying new cases.
On Saturday, the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPP) questioned the announcement, saying that "since January the same pattern has been repeated: figures are announced that, at the moment of their release, cannot be independently corroborated". The CLIPP demanded the publication of names, release documents and legal status of each person, as well as access by independent organisations to all detention centres.
The government said that the 131 releases "were agreed upon by the courts of the republic, at the request of the Public Ministry" following a request to evaluate cases under the Programme for Peace and Democratic Coexistence. Leaders, activists and human rights organisations have demanded the release of all political prisoners, who according to Foro Penal number more than 300. The government denies the existence of political prisoners and claims those detained committed crimes, a claim rejected by opposition organisations and parties.
