Venezuelan authorities have released "all" the teenagers imprisoned during protests against the disputed re-election of President Nicolás Maduro, the NGO Foro Penal, which defends "political prisoners," said on Tuesday.
"It is good news that all the teenagers have been released. However, many young people remain in prison," said Alfredo Romero, director of the NGO, who estimated the number of arrests of young people under 18 at more than 160.
A total of 956 people of the more than 2,400 arrested after the protests unleashed in the hours following Maduro's proclamation have been released, according to the authorities.
Foro Penal, however, counts just over 300, most of them on parole.
"This year, this Christmas is the Christmas with the highest number of political prisoners. More than 1,800 people remain deprived of their liberty for political reasons," Romero insisted.
The protests broke out after the opposition led by María Corina Machado assured that its candidate, Edmundo González, won the election and not Maduro, whose victory was rejected by the United States, the European Union, and several Latin American countries.
Many were arrested without an arrest warrant, according to relatives and NGOs who have also denounced mistreatment and torture.
Three of the detainees — aged 36, 43, and 44 — died in custody of the authorities. Relatives also reported suicide attempts.
The demonstrations also resulted in 28 deaths and almost 200 wounded.
– TIMES/AFP
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