Venezuelan regime touts ‘mass release’ of political prisoners but many say repression continues

NGOs estimate that there are still close to 1,000 political prisoners in Venezuela despite claims by new leaders

The United States has welcomed the release of US citizens by Venezuela, which has been freeing political prisoners in a process that NGOs describe as slow and opaque.

Many in the country also warn that, despite efforts by the regime to appear more open after the seizure and rendition of Nicolas Maduro, repression continues, with residents still having their mobile phones searched by armed militias on the streets and afraid to engage in any form of public protest.