Venezuela's Prisoner Release Farce: Families' Desperate Wait Continues
As Nicolás Maduro, the embattled Venezuelan president, finds himself behind bars in the United States, hundreds of families have returned to Venezuela, demanding the immediate release of their incarcerated loved ones. The Zone 7 police detention center in Caracas has been the focal point of their protests, with some women camping out for over two weeks.
Mileidy Mendoza, one of the protesters, expressed frustration and anger at the slow pace of releases. "We're not going anywhere without our relatives," she said, referring to her partner Eric Díaz, who was arrested last November on charges of "phone pairing." The government's explanation for his arrest has been met with skepticism by many, who see it as a pretext for targeting political opponents.
The family's situation is just one example of the desperation and uncertainty that has gripped Venezuela since Maduro's election in 2024. With over 600 political prisoners still languishing in Venezuelan jails, many have given up hope on seeing their loved ones released anytime soon.
One such prisoner is Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition figure who was arrested last May on charges of terrorism, treason, and conspiring with a foreign government. His son Ramón described his father's emotional state during one of the few brief visits he has had, saying, "The first thing he said to me was that he wouldn't bow down to these people, not even behind bars."
Despite the promise of releases by Maduro's successor, Delcy Rodríguez, many have questioned the sincerity of her words. "Releasing [political] prisoners is always an amazing thing… But it means nothing… in terms of ending the repression," said Javier Corrales, a Latin America expert.
For families like Massiel Cordones', who has been waiting for over two years to see her son, José Ángel Barreno Cordones, released from prison, every day feels like an eternity. Her son was jailed on charges related to Operation Gideon, a failed attempt to overthrow Maduro's government. Despite the exhaustion and uncertainty, Massiel remains hopeful that her son will be freed soon.
As night falls, the protests continue, with protesters joining hands in prayer or singing Venezuela's national anthem, which features lines of resistance against oppression. The families' demand for freedom is met with a mix of hope and frustration, as they struggle to come to terms with the reality of their country's government.
The slow pace of releases has exposed the Maduro regime's attempts to placate international pressure without making meaningful changes. "These are not the actions of a regime that's in the process of democratising... They're the actions of a regime that's in the process of trying to pragmatically consolidate power under a new context," said Orlando Pérez, a Latin America expert.
As the standoff continues, one thing is clear: Venezuela's prisoners are not going anywhere anytime soon.
As Nicolás Maduro, the embattled Venezuelan president, finds himself behind bars in the United States, hundreds of families have returned to Venezuela, demanding the immediate release of their incarcerated loved ones. The Zone 7 police detention center in Caracas has been the focal point of their protests, with some women camping out for over two weeks.
Mileidy Mendoza, one of the protesters, expressed frustration and anger at the slow pace of releases. "We're not going anywhere without our relatives," she said, referring to her partner Eric Díaz, who was arrested last November on charges of "phone pairing." The government's explanation for his arrest has been met with skepticism by many, who see it as a pretext for targeting political opponents.
The family's situation is just one example of the desperation and uncertainty that has gripped Venezuela since Maduro's election in 2024. With over 600 political prisoners still languishing in Venezuelan jails, many have given up hope on seeing their loved ones released anytime soon.
One such prisoner is Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition figure who was arrested last May on charges of terrorism, treason, and conspiring with a foreign government. His son Ramón described his father's emotional state during one of the few brief visits he has had, saying, "The first thing he said to me was that he wouldn't bow down to these people, not even behind bars."
Despite the promise of releases by Maduro's successor, Delcy Rodríguez, many have questioned the sincerity of her words. "Releasing [political] prisoners is always an amazing thing… But it means nothing… in terms of ending the repression," said Javier Corrales, a Latin America expert.
For families like Massiel Cordones', who has been waiting for over two years to see her son, José Ángel Barreno Cordones, released from prison, every day feels like an eternity. Her son was jailed on charges related to Operation Gideon, a failed attempt to overthrow Maduro's government. Despite the exhaustion and uncertainty, Massiel remains hopeful that her son will be freed soon.
As night falls, the protests continue, with protesters joining hands in prayer or singing Venezuela's national anthem, which features lines of resistance against oppression. The families' demand for freedom is met with a mix of hope and frustration, as they struggle to come to terms with the reality of their country's government.
The slow pace of releases has exposed the Maduro regime's attempts to placate international pressure without making meaningful changes. "These are not the actions of a regime that's in the process of democratising... They're the actions of a regime that's in the process of trying to pragmatically consolidate power under a new context," said Orlando Pérez, a Latin America expert.
As the standoff continues, one thing is clear: Venezuela's prisoners are not going anywhere anytime soon.
- innocent people getting caught up in the government's web of deceit and suffering for it 
. It's heartbreaking to see families waiting for years, even decades, to be reunited with their loved ones, all while the regime tries to maintain its grip on power 
.
️ - talk about priorities! And Delcy Rodríguez's promise of releasing political prisoners sounds like a clever PR stunt 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be seen as a champion of freedom and democracy? 
. They're seeing right through the regime's empty promises and are demanding action 
. It's time for Venezuela to take a step forward towards true democracy, not just some tokenistic gesture to placate international pressure 
.
– it's been too long! No more empty promises, no more excuses 
. It's time for real change, and it starts with releasing the prisoners who were imprisoned for speaking out against an unjust regime 
I mean, come on! 600+ people stuck in Venezuelan jails? That's just heartbreaking. It's like they're trapped in some kind of never-ending nightmare. And to think that these people have been arrested on trumped-up charges or just for being part of the opposition... it's just not right.
. And these families waiting for years, still holding on to hope? That's what breaks my heart 
. 600+ political prisoners in Venezuela is just insane 
. Families like Massiel's have been waiting for TWO YEARS 
, can you even imagine how frustrating that must be? 
. They're not giving up hope, but it's heartbreaking to see how desperate they've become 
.
! Maduro's regime is literally playing with people's lives and it's soooo unfair 
Can't the government see that this is a sign of weakness, not strength? 
And what's with the slow pace of releases? Is it really too much to ask for some real change? 
. It's totally not a case of, you know, "you scratch my back, I'll release your loved ones." The fact that hundreds of families are still waiting for their incarcerated relatives to be freed is just... impressive? 
And those protesters who are camping out at the Zone 7 police detention center? They're so brave, but I can only imagine how scared and frustrated they must be feeling 
And that expert, Orlando Pérez, is spot on - it's not like Maduro's regime is trying to make things better for Venezuela... they just want to keep clinging to power 
. Thinks he can just get out of US custody and back to his old tricks? 
Please, that wont fly. This whole thing stinks like a rotten avocado in the street. People are still languishing in those Venezuelan jails, and nothing's changing... it's all just a farce. Can we trust Delcy Rodríguez' words now? 
I think not. These protests by families need to keep going until something actual changes. No more empty promises from Maduro or his cronies. Time's up! 
The situation is dire, but we can't give up hope 
Every time there's a glimmer of light, like when Delcy Rodríguez promised releases, it feels like a step forward 
️ But until then, these families will keep fighting for justice and freedom 
They're going through so much emotional turmoil... we need to be there for them, too 
.
. It's all about maintaining power and control 
. Anyway, back to Venezuela... it's so sad for these families waiting for their loved ones. I mean, 2 years is a really long time to wait, you know? 