Venezuela’s acting president issues statements opposing US interference in her country at a time the release of political prisoners from Caracas prisons continues
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, urged the United States on Sunday to stay out of politics in Venezuela, referring to the pressure Washington has been exerting on it since US forces arrested ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
In a speech to oil workers in the eastern state of Anzoategui, Rodríguez said: “Enough of orders from Washington to Venezuelan politicians… Let Venezuelan politics resolve our internal differences and disputes… Enough interference by foreign powers”.
On the other hand, Venezuelan authorities on Sunday released at least 104 political prisoners as part of a slow-moving release under pressure from the United States, the NGO Foro Piñal said.
“Today we at Foro Bienal verified the release of 104 political prisoners in Venezuela,” the NGO wrote on social media.
Earlier in the day, the organization reported the release of 80 prisoners.
The Venezuelan government says it has released 626 political detainees since December, but this official toll doesn’t correspond to NGO reports.
NGO Foro Piñal accounted for about half of that figure during the same period.
The opposition and the said human rights organizations denounce the slow process.
Families of detainees are waiting in front of prisons, sleeping outdoors in the hope of seeing them regain their freedom.
Since taking office on January 5, Delcy Rodriguez, under US pressure, has promised to release political prisoners, sign oil deals with the United States and begin legislative reform specifically on hydrocarbons.
On Saturday, the acting president called for understandings with the opposition aimed at establishing peace in the country.
But Rodríguez appeared fed up with US interventions, urging the US on Sunday to stay out of politics in Venezuela, a sign of pressure Washington has been exerting on it since US forces arrested ousted President Nicolás Maduro.
