Caracas, Nov 13 (EFE).- A group of relatives of detainees in a prison located in northern Venezuela held a vigil near the penitentiary center, which ended this Wednesday, to demand the freedom of those considered political prisoners and that -they maintain- can enjoy Christmas with their loved ones.
Through publications in relatives’ walk around the penitentiary center.
The protesters released white balloons, with the names of the detainees and “messages of freedom”, outside the San Francisco de Yare Prison, located in the state of Miranda, and also lit dozens of white candles with which they formed on the floor the word “justice.”
According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, there are more than 300 detainees in that penitentiary center in the context of the post-electoral crisis, after the protests registered in rejection of the official result of the presidential elections of July 28, in which The National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed President Nicolás Maduro as the winner.
The largest opposition coalition in Venezuela – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – joined the petition of the relatives to demand the freedom of all “Venezuelans who are behind bars for dissenting from the regime of Nicolás Maduro, before and after 28 of July.
“May this Christmas be without political prisoners and may freedom be the beginning of the peaceful change that we Venezuelans decisively chose,” said the PUD in X.
According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are 1,963 “political prisoners” in Venezuela, of which 1,836 were detained after the presidential elections, in which the PUD claims that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.
Of the total, 69 are minors and are between 14 and 17 years old, according to the organization, which claims to register “the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in Venezuela, at least in the 21st century.”
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Use the recent prisoner swap between the US and Venezuela as leverage to secure the release of Venezuelans held on political charges.
## Seeking Release: Venezuelan Families Demand Reunions for the Holidays
**Host**: Welcome back to the show. We’re turning our attention now to Venezuela, where the holiday season is approaching but for some families, joy is overshadowed by longing. We’re joined by human rights advocate Maria Rodriguez, who’s been working closely with the families of detainees in a northern Venezuelan prison. Maria, thank you for joining us.
**Maria**: It’s my pleasure to be here.
**Host**: Just days ago, we saw images of loved ones holding a vigil outside a prison, demanding the release of those they consider political prisoners. Can you tell us more about this?
**Maria**: Absolutely. These are families who just want to spend Christmas with their loved ones. Many of these detainees have been imprisoned for years, often without due process, and their families are deeply concerned about their well-being. The vigil was a powerful testament to their desperation and hope.
**Host**: Sara, what are the families demanding? Are they calling for a blanket pardon?
**Maria**: They’re not asking for anything unreasonable. They are calling for a transparent review of each case, ensuring that due process is followed. Many believe their family members are being held unjustly for political reasons. They’re asking the government to show compassion this holiday season and allow these families to be reunited.
**Host**: This comes at a time when the US has just reached a prisoner swap deal with Venezuela, securing the release of some Americans [[1](https://www.npr.org/2023/12/20/1220615028/biden-venezuela-fat-leonard)]. Do you see a connection between these events?
**Maria**: It’s difficult to say for sure. But the families see this prisoner exchange as a glimmer of hope. They believe that if the US government can negotiate the release of American citizens, the Venezuelan government should be willing to consider releasing those who have also been unjustly detained within their own borders.
**Host**: Maria, thank you so much for sharing these important perspectives with us. We hope that the stories of these families will shine a light on the ongoing plight of political prisoners in Venezuela.
