The number of prisoners released in Venezuela has reached 18, according to human rights groups. Earlier in the morning, the number was 9. The released prisoners include both local and foreign political detainees.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuela’s senior lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez described the release as a gesture of peace. Trump also said he canceled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela.
The release ended a week of political unrest in Caracas: the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, his arraignment in a New York court, Rodriguez’s swearing-in, and the announcement that the U.S. would process and sell 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.
According to the local rights group Foro Penal, there are 811 political prisoners in the country. Over 80 of them are foreigners, including two U.S. citizens and one with permanent U.S. residency. Among the recently released are five Spanish citizens and former Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Enrique Marquez.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
