Penal Forum: 55 Venezuelans were released after being detained in protests for elections

On Thursday, the Venezuelan NGO Foro Penal said that of the more than 1,400 people it has been able to confirm detained following protests against the results of the presidential elections in which electoral authorities declared Nicolás Maduro’s victory, only 55 people have been released.

“There have been very few people released. Of the more than 1,400 people detained, we have only added 55 people who have been released,” explained the president of the Penal Forum, Alfredo Romero, after an activity of advising the families of these detainees, together with the NGO Provea.

Romero did not specify the ages of those released so far, as, he said, the NGO has counted a total of 118 adolescents, between 13 and 17 years old, among those arrested following the protests.

He also recalled that among those arrested there are people with disabilities, as well as a citizen who is on the autism spectrum.

“There is a deaf person in custody, there are people with disabilities as well as chronic illnesses of some kind,” he added.

The activist said that most of the arrests occurred in the context of protests against the official result of the presidential elections, but he explained that they are verifying reports of “selective” arrests, in which security officials take people who are inside their homes.

Meanwhile, Leticia Torrealba, mother of a 16-year-old boy who was arrested, explained at the event that her son was arrested on July 29 when he was walking with other friends on the street and they were approached by officers of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB).

“He is 16 years old and this is really distressing. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, that you have a minor and they have him in that situation. It’s difficult for you, because it’s hard for you to smile and see other people well (…) you really feel very vulnerable,” she said.

According to the Venezuelan government, more than 2,400 people have been arrested in the context of the protests that followed the elections on July 28, in which, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, 25 deaths were recorded.