Venezuela releases 54 military political prisoners and frees five more in Miranda

On 9 June, the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy confirmed that Venezuelan authorities freed 54 military personnel held for political reasons. The releases included three women from the Instituto Nacional de Orientación Femenina and 51 men from the Ramo Verde prison in Miranda state. Among them was Lieutenant Reinaldo Enrique Finol, linked to the “American spy” case involving former U.S. Marine Matthew John Heath.

Earlier, authorities also released five political detainees – three of them military – from the El Rodeo I jail in Guatire, Miranda. The men, identified as Carlos Sánchez, Tomás Enrique Macíasy, Guillermo Henry César Ciero, along with Javier Quinto and Jesús Bertilio Villafañe, were granted conditional freedom, some facing travel bans. Families continue to protest, noting that over 500 political prisoners remain detained.

Human‑rights groups say the steps are insufficient and urge full amnesty for all political detainees.