Venezuela releases 18 imprisoned journalists in less than 24 hours

Caracas.- The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) of Venezuela counted until 2:00 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. GMT) this Wednesday a total of 18 journalists released from prison in the country, as part of a process of releases launched by the interim Government of Delcy Rodríguez amid the rapprochement with the U.S.

Almost a week after the President of Parliament and brother of the acting president, Jorge Rodríguez, announced the release of a "significant number of people," the releases of journalists from a group of 24 that the SNTP counts as detainees began to be confirmed.

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According to a list from the union, six private journalists remain in prison, including former opposition deputy Juan Pablo Guanipa, a recognized ally of Nobel laureate María Corina Machado. Among the released communicators, Roland Carreño stands out, also an activist of the opposition party Voluntad Popular (VP), who had been arrested on August 2, 2024, after the crisis unleashed by the presidential elections of July 28 of that year, in which the electoral body - of pro-government rectors - proclaimed the victory of Nicolás Maduro, which was rejected by the majority opposition. Carreño had already been arrested on October 26, 2020 - accused of financing terrorism, conspiracy, and illicit trafficking of weapons of war - and was released on October 18, 2023, following an agreement signed then between Chavismo and the  Democratic Unity Platform (PUD), which brings together the majority opposition in Venezuela, in Barbados. In a video released by the local media La Verdad de Vargas, the journalist said he hoped that future events would lead to encounter, peace, and reconciliation. Carreño maintained that there are still "many people in the prisons", so he hopes they will be gradually released "until there are no prisoners left". "It is neither good nor healthy for a country to have political prisoners," he added. Among those released are also Víctor Ugas, Gabriel González, Julio Balza, Carlos Marcano, Nakary Mena Ramos, Gianni González, Omario Castellanos, Carlos Lesma, Rafael García, Leandro Palmar, Luis López, Belises Cubillán, Mario Chávez, Ángel Godoy, Ramón Centeno, Carlos Julio Rojas and the political scientist and director of the digital media outlet Punto de Corte, Nicmer Evans.

Between hugs and prayers

Evans was taken to his residence in Caracas by officials of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), according to images shared by the Colombian media NTN24, where his wife and son received him with hugs. Martha Cambero, Evans' wife, replied "thank you, thank you, thank you" to the media, while the recently released avoided making a statement. For his part, Carlos Julio Rojas went to the Church of La Candelaria, in downtown Caracas to give thanks for his release, according to a video published by NTN24 on X. Rojas was arrested on April 15, 2024 and was charged with several association crimes such as terrorism, conspiracy, incitement to commit crimes, and attempted assassination. The authorities accused him of allegedly being linked to a plan to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro during the registration of his presidential candidacy, in March 2024, for the presidential elections on July 28 of that same year.

They announce that the liberations will be maintained

The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, reported this Wednesday that the process of releasing political prisoners "remains open", which, she said, began last December, when, she assured, "194" releases were carried out. "As of today, we can say that there are already, that they add up to, 406 releases planned in these days," declared from the Miraflores presidential palace, along with the head of Parliament and the Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello. The acting president assured that the objective is to open a new political moment in Venezuela that allows "understanding from divergence and from political diversity". From last Thursday until 13:50 local time (17:50 GMT) this Wednesday, the NGO Foro Penal, which counted more than 800 political prisoners on Sunday, had verified 72 releases. These latest releases have taken place a few days after the United States attacks on Venezuelan soil and after the ruler of that country, Donald Trump, said in a meeting with Republican congressmen that the Caracas authorities were closing a "torture" center.