Venezuelan human rights activist Javier Tarazona was released from prison Sunday, rights organizations and family members said, after the Venezuelan government said it would free political prisoners through an amnesty bill.
Tarazona, director of the Venezuelan nonprofit human rights group FundaRedes, was arrested in July 2021 after he reported to authorities that he had been harassed by national intelligence officials, the report said. Two other activists from FundaRedes were also detained at the time, according to the report.
Rights group Foro Penal, which monitors political prisoners, said Sunday that 317 people jailed for political reasons had been released as of noon local time. It also said that 700 others were still waiting to be freed.
José Rafael Tarazona Sánchez, Tarazona’s brother, posted on X that his wish “has arrived” and wrote: “After 1675 days, four years and seven months, this wishful day has arrived. My brother Javier Tarazona is free.” In the same post, he added: “Freedom for one is hope for all.”
The release came shortly after the arrival in Caracas of U.S. Charge d’Affaires Laura Dogu, who is set to reopen the American diplomatic mission after seven years of severed ties, according to the report. Dogu arrived one day after Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced an amnesty bill aimed at releasing political prisoners—an outcome the opposition has cited as a key demand.
The AP report also said Machado called Tarazona’s release a sign of hope for others. In a post on X, María Corina Machado said, “All of Venezuela admires you and respects your bravery and your commitment,” and added, “Freedom for all political prisoners.”
The Venezuelan government had accused Tarazona of terrorism, betraying the nation, and hate speech—charges the report said are among the accusations it frequently makes against opposition figures or those seen as opposition. The report also said Tarazona was vocal against illegal armed groups along the country’s border with Colombia and their alleged links to senior members of the Maduro administration.
Amnesty International reported that Tarazona’s health had deteriorated because of a lack of medical attention during his time in prison, the report said. The Venezuelan government has denied jailing opposition members and has said opposition figures conspire to bring it down, according to the AP account.