Venezuelan Activist Javier Tarazona Released After Nearly Five Years in Detention

Caracas. Right-wing activist Javier Tarazona has been released in Venezuela. His family and human rights activists reported that he was freed after spending 4 years and 7 months in jail. Tarazona is the director of the human rights group Fundaredhes.

Tarazona was released from the Helicoide prison in the capital, Caracas, after spending 1,675 days in prison. "The freedom of one person is the hope of all," wrote his older brother, Jos Rafael Tarazona, sharing the news of his brother's release on the microblogging website X.

According to the rights organization Foro Penal, more than 30 political prisoners have been released along with Tarazona recently. Although more than 300 have been released since Venezuelan President Nicol Maduro was arrested, it is reported that more than 700 political prisoners still remain in jail.

The government claims that it does not hold political prisoners. However, critics call this an unacceptable criminal accusation. These releases are said to be part of the amnesty bill proposed by Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodr guez, and the move to release political prisoners.