Venezuela releases 131 political prisoners

The Venezuelan government has released 131 political prisoners.

131 political prisoners were released on Friday, August 14, following the first round of talks between Venezuela's interim government and the opposition.

According to a statement from the country's government, the people released were previously detained in cases related to "probable or confirmed participation in crimes." Instead of imprisonment, they were subjected to "alternative measures of restriction of liberty."

According to Reuters, Venezuelan officials have not yet clarified what these alternative measures consist of.

Dinora Figuera, a politician who is leading the opposition delegation in talks with the government, welcomed the release of the prisoners, but noted that other political prisoners remain in prison.

"Not all have been released yet, but all political prisoners deserve complete freedom. We must continue to insist on this until every citizen is reunited with their families," he said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also reacted to the release of 131 prisoners, calling the decision "an important step towards national reconciliation." According to him, a total of 1,046 political prisoners have been released in Venezuela since the beginning of the year.

The first round of talks between the Venezuelan government and the opposition ended on August 12. During the talks, the parties reached an agreement on a number of issues, including reform of the country's judicial system.

The United States supports the talks between the Venezuelan opposition and the interim government. Before the start of the national dialogue, Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, signed an amnesty law under pressure from Washington.

This law has already freed several hundred political prisoners in the country. Now, direct negotiations between the government and the opposition are becoming one of the main political platforms for the release of political prisoners, reform of the judicial system, and the continuation of the process of national reconciliation in the country.