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 are the Venezuelan families’ primary concerns regarding the individuals they are advocating for?
## Hope for the Holidays? Venezuelan Families Demand Prisoner Release
**Interviewer:** We’re here today with Alex Reed, an advocate for [Alex Reed Affiliation or Expertise]. Earlier this month, families of detainees held a vigil near a prison in northern Venezuela, demanding the release of what they call political prisoners in time for Christmas. Alex Reed, can you tell us more about this situation?
**Alex Reed:** Certainly. These families are facing a very heart-wrenching situation. They are desperate to see their loved ones free, especially during the holiday season. The vigil itself was a powerful demonstration of their plight, highlighting the emotional toll this situation takes on families.
**Interviewer:** What specific concerns are these families raising?
**Alex Reed:** They’re calling for the release of individuals they believe are wrongly imprisoned for political reasons. They argue that these individuals should be able to celebrate Christmas with their families. This holiday season only serves to amplify the pain of their separation.
**Interviewer:** This situation comes amidst ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela. Could this news be linked to recent prisoner exchanges between the two countries, as reported by CBS News [[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-venezuela-prisoner-swap-maduro-ally-alex-saab/)]?
**Alex Reed:** It’s possible. The prisoner swaps do offer a glimmer of hope, demonstrating that dialog and negotiation are possible. The families may be encouraged by these developments, hoping their loved ones could be included in future exchanges.
**Interviewer:** What can be done to help these families achieve their goal of reuniting with their loved ones for the holidays?
**Alex Reed:** Continued international pressure on the Venezuelan government to uphold human rights and due process is crucial. Media coverage, like this interview, is important to shine a light on this situation. Additionally, support for organizations providing legal aid and humanitarian assistance to these families is vital.
