Venezuela Frees Over 100 Protesters Jailed After Disputed Presidential Election

Venezuelan authorities have released 107 individuals detained in the wake of July’s contentious presidential election, according to the local rights group Foro Penal.

“Up to now, we have verified 107 political prisoners, due to the post-electoral situation, released in Venezuela,” said Alfredo Romero, head of the NGO.

The group noted that over 1,800 people were arrested during widespread protests that erupted following the announcement of President Nicolás Maduro’s victory. The results, declared by electoral authorities loyal to Maduro, have been rejected by much of the international community.

Anti-government demonstrations broke out after the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that Maduro, 61, had won 52% of the vote to opposition candidate Edmundo González’s 43%. The opposition, however, accused the government of rigging the election, claiming that González had won by a significant margin.

To support their claim, opposition leaders uploaded detailed voting tallies to the internet, which they say prove González’s victory. The CNE dismissed these records, stating the data had been compromised by hackers, and refused to release its official voting logs.

Hundreds of protesters were charged with serious offenses, including terrorism, incitement to hatred, and resistance to authority, according to Human Rights Watch.

The released detainees had been held in four separate prisons across Venezuela. Videos circulating on social media captured the emotional moments as prisoners were greeted by cheering crowds upon their release.

Foro Penal welcomed the releases but emphasized that hundreds more remain imprisoned. “This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are still many political prisoners who need justice,” said Romero.

Maduro, who is set to begin his third six-year term in January, continues to face accusations of authoritarianism and election fraud. The opposition has remained steadfast in its claim that the election was stolen, with González granted political asylum in Spain in September.

The international community has largely condemned the election. The United States, European Union, and several Latin American nations have refused to recognize the results, citing irregularities and the government’s refusal to ensure transparency.

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