Saab affirms that they will review more cases of political prisoners

Tarek William Saab, Nicolás Maduro’s attorney general, assured that the Public Ministry will continue to review cases of political prisoners – not recognized by the government – but only in cases “where there is room.”

“That is going to continue happening, but it is happening, in the cases where there is room,” commented the prosecutor in an interview with The Iguana TV. This is in reference to possible measures that may be granted, such as release from prison.

Political repression increased dramatically after the July 28 presidential election. Although Maduro claimed to have won, he did not show the voting records, the disaggregated results, nor were legal processes established in the electoral calendar such as audits carried out.

Maduro’s security forces detained hundreds of protesters in post-election protests. In its balance of December 2, the NGO Criminal Forum reported that there are a total of 1,905 political prisoners, of which 42 are adolescents between 14 and 17 years of age. In addition, the whereabouts of 23 of those detained are unknown.

“People who may be subject to a review of measures have been done. You already saw that we have done several,” Saad added.

The prosecutor referred, without naming her, to case of Mariana Gonzálezwho was released from prison on Thursday, December 5. The minor spent more than four months unjustly detained.

González’s relatives reported that the teenager was arrested when she went out to eat hot dogs with her boyfriend. The police would have mistaken her for a protester.

“Yesterday we made a (release) at night. We sent human rights prosecutors coordinated with Senamecf, the young woman was examined and we determined that she could be subject to a tailored review,” Saad said about the case.

Not only did they accuse the young woman of terrorism and inciting hatred, but they denied her the right to private defense and her case worsened.

The narrative of Chavismo

Saad maintained the claim that if the Maduro administration had not acted, a “civil war” would have occurred, with “at least 3,000 dead.”

“We stopped the post-election violence in its tracks and handed their leaders a defeat that has hurt them a lot because they were left without a town, without a street, without anything. After that, none of the protests they have called have had any impact.”

However, the elections left a greater political crisis with a ruler who hopes to continue in power despite complaints of fraud in the official results, both from the opposition and international organizations.

Balance of #PoliticalPrisoners in Venezuela on 12/02/2024 by 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹:

We have registered and classified the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in #Venezuelaat least in the 21st century. We continue to receive and register detainees.

𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘀… pic.twitter.com/URQpfTNRSf

— Penal Forum (@ForoPenal) December 5, 2024

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