MIAMI - A report was released on Saturday by Venezuela-based NGO Penal Foro detailing over 900 political prisoners currently detained by Venezuelan authorities, according to local news outlet El Nacional.
Penal Foro cites a total of 902 political prisoners, 86 of whom hold foreign or dual nationality, adding that the list "does not yet include all those who have been arrested and released or are being held under short-term arrest (48 hours)."
The NGO also claims that most of these prisoners were apprehended and detained following the controversial July 2024 presidential victory of Nicolás Maduro, despite widespread accusations of "electoral fraud and abuse" by international bodies and the internal Venezuelan opposition party, Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD), led by the "legitimately recognized president" of the Republic of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia.
Among those imprisoned, 728 are civilians, and 174 are military personnel, Foro Penal indicates. Penal also details that 898 are adults, and four are teenagers between 14 and 17 years old.
Foro Penal provides pro bono legal assistance to victims subjected to arbitrary detention and human rights violations within Venezuela.
The organization claims that it has been targeted by the regime in Caracas, also alleging that its leaders have been surveilled, harassed, and physically assaulted by government agents.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab, a close ally of Nicolás Maduro and Minister of Interior Diosdado Cabello, accuses the organization of being funded by the United States government.
