NGOs estimate that there are still close to 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela despite claims by new leaders
The United States has welcomed the release of US citizens by Venezuela, which has been freeing political prisoners in a process that NGOs describe as slow and opaque.
Many in the country also warn that, despite efforts by the regime to appear more open after the seizure and rendition of Nicolás Maduro, repression continues, with residents still having their mobile phones searched by armed militias on the streets and afraid to engage in any form of public protest.
Local media reported that 15 teenagers were detained on 5 January for “celebrating” Maduro’s capture in the city of Barcelona, about 300km (186 miles) from the capital, Caracas. After a local backlash, the teenagers were released on Tuesday.
Since the unprecedented US ground attack on a South American country, a state of emergency has been in force in Venezuela, ordering the “immediate search and capture of anyone involved in the promotion or support of the US armed attack”.
