Venezuela freed five Spanish detainees, including activist Rocio San Miguel, but rights groups say promised releases of Venezuelan prisoners have not occurred.
CARACAS: Venezuela has released five Spanish citizens from detention, including prominent rights activist Rocio San Miguel.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed the release, calling it a “positive step.”
The other freed individuals are Andres Martinez, Jose Maria Basoa, Ernesto Gorbe and Miguel Moreno.
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Venezuelan lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez had earlier promised a significant number of foreign and Venezuelan prisoners would be freed.
However, a leading local human rights group said the promised release of Venezuelan nationals had “not been executed in a real way” as of Thursday evening.
The Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners reported uncertainty at detention centres, with families stating releases had not been carried out.
The prisoner releases come during a week of political turmoil following the US ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro was arraigned in a New York court on narcoterrorism charges, and interim President Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in.
The US also announced it would refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil stuck under sanctions.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has repeatedly demanded prisoner releases, with several of her allies imprisoned.
For years, Venezuela’s opposition and rights groups have accused the government of using detentions to stamp out dissent, a charge authorities deny.
San Miguel, an expert on security and Venezuela’s military, was detained at Maiquetia international airport near Caracas in February 2024.
Her arrest was widely condemned by opposition politicians and rights organisations.
Leading local rights group Foro Penal estimates there are more than 800 political prisoners in Venezuela.
That figure includes at least 86 foreign detainees from the United States, Spain and other countries. – Reuters
