The NGO Foro Penal, dedicated to the defense of political prisoners, reported this Tuesday that it has verified the release of 109 people in Venezuela after the entry into force of the amnesty law on Friday.
The vice president of the organization, Gonzalo Himiob, detailed in his X account that the Penal Forum registered 7 releases on Friday, 15 on Saturday, 46 on Sunday and 41 on Monday. He stressed that they continue to verify other cases.
Alfredo Romero, president of the NGO, indicated on the same social network that since January 8 – when the authorities announced the release of a “significant number” of detainees – another 545 political prisoners have been released.
Full freedom vs. precautionary measures
He Criminal Forum establishes a difference between full releases and releases. In the case of the latter, the beneficiaries are released from prison, but remain on conditional release and subject to precautionary measures, such as a prohibition on leaving the country or the obligation to appear periodically before the courts.
Earlier, opposition deputy Stalin González urged X to “obey without excuses” the amnesty law in Venezuela and stressed that its compliance “is not optional.” This, after civil organizations and families of political prisoners denounced delays and obstacles in accessing this benefit.
González warned that “it is useless to advance in the Legislature” if there is not “a real and effective commitment of all public powers.” He stated that the amnesty “is not an ornament or a headline,” but rather “a key piece of a larger process to rebuild the country.”
Ecarri will request to investigate judges who delay the amnesty law
On Monday, fellow opposition deputy Antonio Ecarri, a member of the commission in charge of monitoring the amnesty law, announced that he will request an investigation against judges who delay its application. The measure arises after unions reported that courts with jurisdiction in terrorism refused to receive requests related to the regulations.
Chavista deputy Jorge Arreaza, president of the parliamentary commission for compliance with the law, reported on Monday that a total of 2,021 detainees have been released under precautionary measures, while 177 prisoners have received the full benefit of the amnesty.
