The release, celebrated by Marco Rubio, comes after negotiations between chavismo and the opposition and raises the number of Venezuelans freed since January 3 to 1,046
Delcy Rodríguez announced that today Venezuela will release 131 political prisoners
Turning to the particular stories of this persecution, the case of Emirlendris Benítez stands out as one of the most inhumane and cruel examples of the dictatorship. Benítez was detained in August 2018 while she was four months pregnant, after being falsely linked to a drone attack carried out in Caracas during a military event attended by the former dictator Nicolás Maduro.
The chavista justice system subjected her to a disproportionate sentence of 30 years in prison on charges of terrorism, treason to the homeland, and qualified homicide in an attempted degree.
During her unjust imprisonment, Benítez suffered severe torture while in custody, which caused her to lose her pregnancy and suffer serious mobility issues, to the point of being confined to a wheelchair due to chronic pain and permanent injuries.
Her situation of extreme vulnerability mobilized the international community; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued precautionary measures in her favor in 2020.
Delcy Rodríguez announced that today Venezuela will release 131 political prisoners
Furthermore, in 2022, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention demanded her immediate release after categorizing her detention as completely arbitrary.
The release of Benítez occurred alongside that of five other women. By the end of the day, the human rights organization Foro Penal confirmed a total of 17 effective releases and recommended caution to consolidate a final figure.
For its part, the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners celebrated Benítez's release but reminded the international public opinion that oppression has not completely ceased, firmly declaring: "The struggle does not end here".
Delcy Rodríguez officially announced that today the release of 131 Venezuelan political prisoners will take place, an event that is interpreted on the international stage as a strategic setback for chavismo. This announcement represents one of the most significant measures within the framework of the Amnesty Law approved in February, designed under a facade of political détente.
The historic news was immediately celebrated by the Secretary of State of the Trump administration, Marco Rubio, who issued a strong statement through his account on the X platform: "The recent release of more than 130 political prisoners in Venezuela is a crucial step for the nation's reconciliation process. Since January 3, 1,046 Venezuelans have been released".
Delcy Rodríguez announced that today Venezuela will release 131 political prisoners
This process of releases occurs immediately after the first formal meeting held between representatives of the chavista regime and a sector of the Venezuelan opposition, led at the dialogue table by the representative Dinorah Figuera.
In this initial round of negotiations, the parties agreed to advance on key reforms, such as the renewal of all magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) and the recovery of valuable financial assets held in England.
From an institutional perspective, the announcement was channeled through the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, which attributed the execution of the measures to the country's courts following procedural requests from the Public Ministry.
However, the reviewed files correspond to citizens that the interim government linked to alleged attacks against institutions and national stability, a recurring label of the official justice system.
Although the regime attempts to politically instrumentalize this event, human rights organizations have been emphatic in warning that a release under precautionary measures in no way equates to the recognition of the victims' innocence. Many of those who are released today will remain subject to strict judicial restrictions outside of prison.
