Opposition leader María Corina Machado celebrated on Sunday the release of activist and NGO director Javier Tarazona, who had been detained for over four years on charges of 'treason to the homeland,' terrorism, and incitement to hate by the Chavist regime. According to Noticias Argentinas agency, the release was confirmed by the Foro Penal and is framed within the recent amnesty law proposal announced by the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who also communicated that the SEBIN headquarters, El Helicoide, will be transformed into a cultural center. Machado's message Through her X account, the former deputy shared her emotions after the first image of Tarazona in freedom, hugging his mother Teresa and his brother José Rafael in a church, was published. 'Dear Javier, it moves me to see you finally embracing Teresa... all of Venezuela admires and respects your courage and dedication,' wrote Machado. The leader took the opportunity to reiterate her demand for 'the freedom of all political prisoners,' ensuring that in the country 'there will be justice.' A symbol of criminalization Tarazona had been arrested on July 2, 2021, after reporting to the Prosecutor's Office the harassment by security officials. His arrest came after he became the main voice exposing the armed conflict between the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) and FARC dissidents on the Colombian-Venezuelan border. From Fundaredes, they celebrated the news and thanked for the international pressure: 'His case became a symbol of the criminalization against human rights defenders in Venezuela.' As of this Saturday, the Foro Penal confirmed the release of 310 people within the amnesty process initiated last January 8.
