Venezuela: Process of releasing political prisoners remains open

From the Miraflores Palace, the seat of government, the acting head of state stated that "the process of releasing people who were deprived of liberty" has "not yet concluded," which she said began last December when, she assured, "194" releases were carried out. The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, reported this Wednesday that "the process of the release of political prisoners remains open," almost a week after her brother, the president of the Parliament, the chavist Jorge Rodríguez, announced the release of "a significant number of people." Along with her brother, also the chief government negotiator, and the Minister of the Interior, Diosdado Cabello, the chavista leader noted that the process excludes people accused of homicide and drug trafficking and that "crimes related to the constitutional order, hate, violence, and intolerance are being evaluated." These latest releases have taken place just days after attacks by the United States on Venezuelan soil in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured. From last Thursday until 1:50 p.m. local time (5:50 p.m. GMT) this Wednesday, the NGO Foro Penal, which counted over 800 political prisoners on Sunday, recorded 72 releases. This Wednesday, more than a dozen journalists have been released, according to press organizations. "The objective is to open up political spaces, (...) the message is a Venezuela that is opening up to a new political moment that allows for understanding from divergence and from political and ideological diversity," she expressed. Additionally, she indicated that it is an "arduous process" led by Cabello, whom the official stated is "in permanent coordination and articulation with the justice bodies." "To date —she added— we can say that there are already, that they already total, 406 releases planned for these days".