By Sayen Herrera, Julie Turkewitz and Genevieve Glatsky
Through the sweltering heat of Tocorón prison on Sunday, the inmates gazed out at their distressed relatives, blowing kisses through small openings and shouting “Soon!”
About three months after the authoritarian regime in Venezuela apprehended approximately 2,000 individuals during a crackdown that followed a contested presidential election, officials have revealed intentions to free over 200 prisoners.
By Sunday, at least 131 individuals had been released, as reported by Foro Penal, a local monitoring organization. Some analysts interpreted the large-scale release partially as a maneuver by the government to extract concessions from the incoming Trump administration.
However, the announcement left around 1,800 families in a situation of painful uncertainty, hoping their loved ones—sons, daughters, siblings, spouses—would also be among those freed. Over the weekend, hundreds gathered outside Tocorón, a prison situated two hours from Caracas, eagerly anticipating the emergence of their family members.
Just weeks prior, President Nicolás Maduro had boasted about housing his political adversaries in Tocorón, whom he referred to as “fascist criminals.”
The government has predominantly charged them with terrorism, a charge that has become a frequent tool for targeting political rivals. Many detainees deny the allegations, with their families informing The New York Times that their loved ones committed no offenses.
Belkys Altuve, aged 59, was among those standing under the glaring sun. She reported that two of her sons and two grandchildren, all in their 20s, had been incarcerated since July 28, facing terrorism charges after they left their home searching for food and beverages for a birthday celebration.
That day was Election Day, and Altuve had voted for Maduro, who has governed the country for a generation. She had faith in his call for a socialist revolution, she stated.
Now, “I feel as if they have betrayed me by taking my children away,” she expressed.
As of late Sunday, her family members remained in custody.
For years, crackdowns in Venezuela have been accompanied by intermittent releases of prisoners, a repetitive cycle that has exhausted both spirits and minds.
Tamara Taraciuk Broner, a Venezuela expert for the Inter-American Dialogue, a research institution in Washington, noted that prisoner releases are nearly always linked to a political objective.
In this instance, she indicated, Maduro may be attempting to signal to President-elect Donald Trump that he is prepared to mitigate human rights abuses in return for favorable relations.
During his first term, Trump implemented severe measures, including rigorous economic sanctions, aimed at ousting the Venezuelan leadership.
The Maduro regime is “clearly more concerned” about punitive actions under the Trump administration compared to President Joe Biden, according to Taraciuk Broner. “They wish to demonstrate that they are open to negotiation.”
Tarek William Saab, Venezuela’s attorney general, informed the Times that those still in detention are being held due to serious criminal charges “and there are concerns they may evade prosecution.”
He also mentioned via text message that his office “has not received any reports of human rights violations during the protests or the arrests.”
The release follows shortly after the passing of Jesús Manuel Martínez, an opposition organizer suffering from Type 2 diabetes and cardiac issues who died in government custody. Opposition figures have accused the government of failing to provide him with adequate medical treatment, although Saab stated he had been hospitalized since October.
The terrorism allegations carry a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years, according to Martha Tineo, a human rights attorney in Venezuela. The released individuals have not had their charges dismissed and will still need to contest their cases in court.
Outside Tocorón, numerous individuals mentioned they had traveled from far away, with several sporting T-shirts featuring the faces of their incarcerated loved ones set against a backdrop of a Venezuelan flag.
Yajaira Gutiérrez, 44, remarked that she, too, had supported Maduro in the July 28 election. She stated her 21-year-old son had not voted but was taken from their home in the early hours of Aug. 7. He has also been accused of terrorism.
“It doesn’t seem just that I have sacrificed everything for him,” Gutiérrez lamented about Maduro, “and yet they have punished me in this way.”
The July ballot pitted Maduro against Edmundo González, a diplomat backed by the highly regarded opposition leader, María Corina Machado.
Maduro, known for his history of electoral manipulation, declared victory almost immediately following the closure of the polls but has failed to provide tally sheets to substantiate his claim.
In response, the González-Machado coalition gathered tally sheets from over 80% of polling locations, sharing them online and contending that the evidence indicated González secured nearly 70% of the vote.
Both the United States and other countries have acknowledged González as the rightful victor of the election, whereas independent observers have deemed Maduro’s assertion to be untrustworthy.
The government’s crackdown began just as voting concluded on July 28, with Maduro urging citizens to report neighbors who displayed disloyal sentiments while police instituted checkpoints in select areas and checked phones for signs of opposition affiliation.
Though the Maduro regime has consistently targeted opposition figures, especially high-profile leaders, it has never before detained so many individuals with such minimal political involvement for extended periods.
Luis Mata, 25, from Margarita Island, was among those liberated from Tocorón over the weekend. He identified as a human rights advocate and mentioned he had previously been detained for nine days in 2017 during anti-Maduro demonstrations.
This time, he recounted being forced to strip, labeled a terrorist, and assaulted on the neck upon entering the prison. During his confinement, he shared a cell with several others and was provided with spoiled meat and unsafe drinking water.
He was detained alongside about 47 others from Margarita island and was one of only eight to be released, he indicated. Therefore, the day following his release, he returned to the prison to see if any others from Margarita would also be freed.
Many of those present outside Tocorón were hesitant to speak, fearing it could lead to retribution. Mata, however, felt differently.
“You’ve already imprisoned me,” he told the government. “You’ve already tortured me. What else do you want? What more do you seek from me? What else do you desire from us? To silence us? You will never be able to silence us, because our demand for freedom will always resonate.”
