A police van set on fire by violent far-right mobs in Valencia, Carabobo state, Venezuela. Photo: Social media.
On Thursday, Venezuela’s Penitentiary Ministry reported the release of 99 people who had been detained for their involvement in acts of violence and incitement to hatred following the July 28, 2024, presidential election. To date, over 2,100 people have been released by Venezuelan authorities for these crimes, with the majority of the releases occurring between November 2024 and March 2025.
In an official statement, the institution explained that those released were involved in actions aimed at disregarding the mandate expressed by the Venezuelan people at the polls and generating scenarios of destabilization that affected national peace.
Given this situation, the Nicolás Maduro administration, in coordination with the justice system, decided to review each case individually and grant precautionary measures in accordance with the current legal framework.
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The Penitentiary Ministry emphasized that the release of these citizens constitutes a tangible manifestation of the state’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, understanding, and the exercise of balanced justice.
The statement also noted that these decisions are part of the ongoing policies promoted by President Maduro, aimed at guaranteeing full respect for human rights, including those of people who, influenced by political and media manipulation campaigns, engaged in actions against sovereignty, institutions, and social harmony.
The statement emphasizes that, despite the context of external pressures and multifaceted aggression against the country, Venezuela maintains its commitment to ensuring conditions of confinement based on legality, respect, and comprehensive care for all persons deprived of liberty.
Venezuela reaffirms that it will continue to act responsibly and firmly in defense of peace, social justice, and national sovereignty.
In the early hours of July 29, 2024, after the results of the presidential election were announced, the far-right opposition, led by MarĂa Corina Machado and Edmundo González, deployed its “terror squads” throughout Venezuela to sow chaos, destruction, and death. Twenty-eight people died in total.
These deadly fascist politicians caused the deaths of 21 people on July 29. The largest number of deaths occurred in Caracas with nine, followed by Aragua with seven. Carabobo, Miranda, Táchira, Yaracuy, and Zulia each registered one death that day, according to figures presented by Attorney General Tarek William Saab on several occasions that year.
Far-right groups extended their terrorist actions for 72 hours, causing destruction, siege, and terror, and leaving seven more dead in their wake over the course of those hours and days. Five of these deaths occurred on July 30 and one on August 1. Another woman was killed on August 3, as reported by Diario Vea.
Towards reconciliation with justice
As part of a rigorous and law-compliant review process, the Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office has released more than 2,000 people linked to the violent events that occurred in the aftermath of the presidential election.
Venezuela: Courts Announce Release of 110 More Detainees from Post-Election Violence
The Venezuelan Public Prosecutor’s Office has repeatedly expressed its institutional commitment to upholding the constitutional guarantees and human rights of detainees, even in contexts of high political tension and US imperialist aggression. The releases, approved after thorough investigations, aim to balance justice with the possibility of social reintegration in a nation still reeling from the wave of violence, which caused hundreds of injuries.
These measures do not imply impunity. Investigations by the Attorney General’s Office have established that behind the worst episodes of violence—including cold-blooded murders, attacks on state institutions, and assaults against international electoral observers— were organized structures known as “Comanditos,” linked to the far-right opposition.
According to Saab, these groups acted in a coordinated manner with the intention of destabilizing the country and undermining the election results, committing hate crimes and extreme violence that also affected members of law enforcement agencies, such as Sergeants JosĂ© Antonio Torrents and Jormen MartĂnez.
(Telesur) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
