The political and social organization Centered on People denounced this Friday, January 23, that political persecution in Venezuela continues to be “alarming”despite recent official announcements about the release of detainees, and demanded full freedom for all people deprived of liberty for political reasons.
In a public statement addressed to the country and the international community, the organization stated that, according to the monitoring of Foro Penal and Provea, the repressive reality of the Venezuelan State is far from official messages and continues to be marked by opacity, forced disappearances and control mechanisms that violate fundamental rights.
More than 770 political prisoners remain detained
Centrados indicated that, as of January 19, 2026, the number of political prisoners in Venezuela was 777 people, a figure that, in the organization’s opinion, “shocks the democratic conscience.”
Of that total, 604 are civilians and 173 are military, many of them subjected to conditions of extreme isolation. The balance also includes 99 women, 678 men and two adolescents, which, Centrados stressed, directly contravenes international commitments on human rights.
The organization also recalled the case of police officials who have accumulated up to 23 years of detention, without a fair judicial process having been guaranteed.
“Conditional freedom” after release
In the statement, Centrados questioned what he described as the “conditional freedom trap.” Although he acknowledged that 143 releases have been registered during the month of January, he warned that these do not constitute real freedom.
According to the organization, more than 14,000 Venezuelans remain subject to a regime of periodic appearances before courts, a ban on leaving the country and restrictions on expressing themselves publicly.
“A freedom that does not allow speaking, working or moving is, in essence, an extension of captivity outside the cells,” the movement maintained.
Centers denounce forced disappearances
Focused too warned about the existence of dozens of cases of forced disappearanceafter detainees were transferred from their detention centers to unknown places, without their relatives having received official information.
The organization rejected the use of solitary confinement as a form of psychological torture for both the detainees and their families, who – as it noted – have protested before the Public Ministry in search of proof of life.
Faced with this scenario, Centrados reiterated its call to the international community to maintain attention on the Venezuelan situation and demanded the cessation of political persecution, as well as the full and immediate release of all political prisoners.
