Caracas, Nov 13 (EFE).- A group of relatives of detainees in a prison located in northern Venezuela held a vigil near the penitentiary center, which ended this Wednesday, to demand the freedom of those considered political prisoners and that -they maintain- can enjoy Christmas with their loved ones.
Through publications in relatives’ walk around the penitentiary center.
The protesters released white balloons, with the names of the detainees and “messages of freedom”, outside the San Francisco de Yare Prison, located in the state of Miranda, and also lit dozens of white candles with which they formed on the floor. the word “justice.”
According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, there are more than 300 detainees in that penitentiary center in the context of the post-electoral crisis, after the protests registered in rejection of the official result of the presidential elections of July 28, in which The National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed President Nicolás Maduro as the winner.
The largest opposition coalition in Venezuela – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – joined the petition of the relatives to demand the freedom of all “Venezuelans who are behind bars for dissenting from the regime of Nicolás Maduro, before and after 28 of July.
“May this Christmas be without political prisoners and may freedom be the beginning of the peaceful change that we Venezuelans decisively chose,” said the PUD in X.
According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are 1,963 “political prisoners” in Venezuela, of which 1,836 were detained after the presidential elections, in which the PUD claims that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.
Of the total, 69 are minors and are between 14 and 17 years old, according to the organization, which claims to register “the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in Venezuela, at least in the 21st century.”
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What specific actions are the families taking to advocate for the release of their loved ones, beyond holding vigils?
## Interview: Venezuelan Families Demand Release of Political Prisoners Ahead of Christmas
**Host:** We’re joined today by [Guest Name], a human rights advocate based in Venezuela who closely follows the situation of political prisoners in the country. Thank you for joining us.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** We’ve seen recent reports of relatives of detainees holding vigils outside prisons, demanding the release of what they call political prisoners. Can you tell us more about these protests and the demands of the families?
**Guest:** Absolutely. Just this past week, there was a poignant vigil near a prison in northern Venezuela. The families of detainees are desperately calling for the release of their loved ones, particularly ahead of the Christmas holidays. They consider their family members to be political prisoners, unjustly detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest or expressing dissenting views. [[1](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/18/nx-s1-5191775/venezuela-still-holds-hundreds-of-political-prisoners-dozens-are-minors)]
**Host:** This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about concerns regarding political prisoners in Venezuela. What is the current situation overall?
**Guest:** Sadly, Venezuela still holds hundreds of political prisoners, including dozens of minors. Many have been imprisoned based on flimsy accusations related to anti-regime protests. [[1](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/18/nx-s1-5191775/venezuela-still-holds-hundreds-of-political-prisoners-dozens-are-minors)]The families are enduring immense hardship, separated from loved ones during a difficult time. It’s a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights challenges facing Venezuela.
**Host:** What are the families hoping to achieve with these demonstrations?
**Guest:** They’re hoping to use these protests to shine a light on the plight of political prisoners and to pressure the Venezuelan government to release them. The families want their loved ones home for Christmas, and they want to see an end to this unjust practice of imprisoning people for exercising their basic rights.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing this important information with us. We’ll continue to follow this developing story and keep our viewers informed.
