The Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela commissioned by the Human Rights Council estimates that there are around 800 political prisoners in the country and said the partial release did not meet the Government’s human rights obligations for their immediate and unconditional release.
The move comes as the country is adjusting to the new leadership of interim President Delcy RodrÃguez. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has called on Venezuelan authorities and the United States to ensure full respect for international law and has expressed concern about further militarization in the country.
‘A tool of repression’
The fact-finding mission has extensively documented what it characterized as the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention as a tool of repression and reiterated its call for the “immediate and unconditional” release of all political prisoners.
The experts also urged authorities to provide public information about prisoners and bring detention conditions into line with international law, including by immediately ending torture and cruel treatment.
“Family members must be provided with clear and timely information about the fate, whereabouts and legal situation of their loved ones, as well as ensuring access and regular visits.“, they said.
Investigators said they had received information about armed attacks. collectivesor government-backed armed groups, which have reportedly been patrolling cities and intimidating the population since the US operation, while new arrests of those expressing dissident political opinions have been made during the crisis.
Past findings
The independent fact-finding mission to Venezuela has cited multiple rights violations since its creation in 2019.
In its investigation into the country’s disputed 2024 presidential election, the mission’s findings included arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances and torture.
This mission stated that authorities had not complied with recommendations to investigate human rights violations and implement measures to prevent their recurrence.
Investigators also found that during the peak of the protests in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024, officials from Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard used excessive force, including the misuse of lethal and less-lethal weapons, among other violations.