The NGO Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness (JEP) considered this Monday that the freedom of political prisoners in Venezuela depends on an “incomprehensible chance and not on the proper following of legal criteria”after they became known releases of people detained after the presidential elections of July 28, 2024.
In its X account, the organization stated that Venezuela closes 2025 with a process of “releases characterized by strategic opacity and a discretionary line of selection that aims at absolute randomness”after the government announced the release of 99 people, without publishing a list.
“We have seen in the past that releases are announced (…) Only indicating figures and not publishing the registry of those released is a way to avoid verification of that information. Besides, What were the criteria for deciding who leaves and who stays?“he told EFE general coordinator of the NGO, Martha Tineo.
Venezuela closes 2025 with a release process characterized by strategic opacity and a discretionary line of selection that points to absolute randomness. Despite the *verified release of 71 citizens* —compared to the 99 officially announced without… pic.twitter.com/pjKEIwQTGp
— Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness (@JEPvzla) December 29, 2025
Of the total number of releases, JEP verified 71 compared to the 99 officially announcedamong them 28 cases that the organization was unaware ofbut he was able to confirm that they were arrests for political reasons.
“For every group that regains its freedom, The verification brings to light arrests about which there was no informationconfirming that The magnitude of the human rights crisis in Venezuela is a constantly moving target“, JEP stressed.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the releases have “exclusively benefited detainees from the post-election period”arrested after the complaint of fraud in the re-election of Nicolás Maduroproclaimed by an electoral body controlled by rectors related to Chavismo.
“This represents an additional sentence to the oblivion of citizens imprisoned for years for political reasons and that in many cases they have suffered an early sentence“he indicated.
Therefore, JEP described the handling of releases as “erratic” and warned about a “Devastating Collateral Damage: The Psychological Torture of Frustrated Hope”in addition to emotional crises and deep grief.
JEP accounts in Venezuela 1,041 political prisoners (877 men and 164 women)although he warns that the figure “probably higher” due to unreported arrests and new cases.
After the 2024 presidential elections, more than 2,400 people were arrestedaccused of “terrorism” and “vandalism”although NGOs and opposition parties denounce repression and they maintain that they are innocent.
