Venezuelan rights activist Javier Tarazona released as part of prisoner amnesty

Venezuelan Rights Activist Released After Four Years in Prison

Javier Tarazona, director of FundaRedes, has been released from the Helicoide detention centre in Caracas after serving a four-year sentence on “terrorism” and conspiracy charges. According to his family, Tarazona was freed on Sunday after 1675 days in prison.

The release comes as part of a series of prisoner releases announced by Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez earlier this month. Foro Penal, a legal rights group, has verified that more than 300 political prisoners have been released from the Helicoide detention centre since the government’s announcement on January 8.

Tarazona was arrested in July 2021 and charged with “terrorism” and conspiracy. Government officials claim that there have been over 600 prisoner releases, but have not provided an official list of those affected or a clear timeline for the releases.

Families of prisoners who remain jailed have long demanded that charges against detainees be revoked. The proposed amnesty law, which could affect hundreds of detainees, has sparked controversy among opposition politicians, journalists, and rights activists.

The release of Tarazona comes as the top US envoy for Venezuela arrived in Caracas to reopen a US diplomatic mission seven years after ties were severed. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is currently facing drug trafficking and “narcoterrorism” conspiracy charges in New York.

Source: Al Jazeera