Venezuelan authorities release son-in-law of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez

Venezuelan Prisoner Released After 380 Days in Detention

Rafael Tudares Bracho, the son-in-law of opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, was released from prison on Thursday. The release comes as Interim President Delcy Rodriguez gradually reduces the number of political prisoners held in Venezuela’s prisons.

Tudares Bracho had been imprisoned since January 2025, just days before ex-President Nicolas Maduro’s third inauguration. He was arrested and charged with conspiracy, terrorism, and criminal association following a 12-hour trial. His wife has described the trial as a “sham”.

The release of Tudares Bracho has been welcomed by members of the opposition coalition, including Gonzalez’s daughter Mariana Gonzalez, who expressed relief at her husband’s return home after more than a year of detention.

Gonzalez had run against Maduro in the 2024 presidential election, which was marred by controversy and disputed results. The opposition coalition claimed victory, despite Maduro’s claims of victory.

The Trump administration has been involved in Venezuela’s politics since Maduro’s abduction on January 3. Interim President Rodriguez has met with US officials, including CIA director John Ratcliff, and has expressed a willingness to work with the US on issues such as oil development.

Rodriguez has also taken steps to reduce tensions with the opposition, including opening up the country’s state-run oil industry to foreign development. The move is seen as a concession to the Trump administration, which has kept military assets deployed off Venezuela’s coast and threatened Venezuelan officials if they do not comply with US demands.

According to Foro Penal, a leading prisoner rights organisation in Venezuela, at least 775 people remain in detention, while 145 have been verified as political prisoners. The organisation has called for the release of all remaining prisoners, citing concerns over their treatment and lack of due process.

Source: Al Jazeera