Political prisoners released from the "Gelikoid" prison
At least nine prisoners have been released from the “Helicoid” prison in Venezuela, known for its harsh conditions and use of torture. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Among them are human rights defender Javier Tarazona and several political activists. This event took place on February 1 in the capital city, Caracas.
The “Helicoid” prison is internationally recognized for its severe conditions and treatment of those opposing the government. According to the Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal, Javier Tarazona was among those released.
His brother, Jose-Rafael Tarazona, announced on social media that Javier was freed after 1,675 days of imprisonment. He also expressed gratitude to those who helped in this process.
Foro Penal Vice President Gonzalo Himiob also commented on the event, emphasizing the importance of every step toward freedom. According to the organization, over 300 political prisoners have been released in recent weeks, but more than 700 remain incarcerated.
On January 30, the Venezuelan government announced plans to grant amnesty to hundreds of political prisoners and to close the “Helicoid” prison. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez spoke at the Supreme Court, expressing intentions to pass a general amnesty law covering the period of political violence ongoing since 1999.
Additionally, it has been reported that hundreds of political prisoners were released after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. While the Venezuelan government claims this number exceeds 600, human rights defenders approach this figure with caution.
This process may mark the beginning of a new phase in Venezuela’s political situation. Most importantly, the decisions being made are expected to serve an open and fair resolution of the fate of those still imprisoned.
