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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What specific actions are the families of detainees taking to demand the release of their loved ones?
## Interview with Venezuelan Human Rights Activist
**Interviewer:** We’re here today discussing recent prison unrest in Venezuela. Families of detainees have been protesting, demanding the release of those they consider political prisoners ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Can you elaborate on the situation?
**Guest:** Absolutely. We’ve seen a concerning trend in Venezuela of political prisoners being unjustly detained, often without due process. This latest protest by family members near a prison in northern Venezuela highlights their growing desperation. They simply want to have their loved ones home for the holidays.
**Interviewer:** What specific conditions are these families protesting?
**Guest:** Primarily, they are demanding the release of their relatives who they believe are being held solely for their political beliefs. These families argue that their loved ones should not be incarcerated, particularly during Christmas. They’re calling on the Venezuelan government to show compassion and allow these detainees to spend this important time with their families.
**Interviewer:** Are there any known connections between these protests and the recent incident where Venezuelan security forces regained control of a prison where inmates had built a swimming pool?
**Guest:** While the two incidents occurred around the same time, it’s important to note they appear to be unrelated. The prison takeover, which garnered international attention [[1](https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/24/americas/venezuela-regains-control-prison-intl-hnk/index.html)], involved a different penitentiary and a different set of issues.
**Interviewer:** What needs to happen now to address the concerns of these families?
**Guest:** The Venezuelan government needs to engage in a transparent and independent review of the cases of these detainees. If they are indeed political prisoners, they should be released. Moreover, the international community must continue to pressure the Venezuelan government to uphold human rights and ensure fair treatment for all its citizens.
