Venezuela reports 404 political prisoners with ongoing excarcelations

A report by the NGO Foro Penal on 3 June 2026 said Venezuela holds 404 political prisoners, including 39 foreigners. The detainees comprise 269 men, 35 women, one adolescent, 179 military personnel and 225 civilians. Of these, 237 remain incarcerated without sentence while 167 have been convicted. The organization recorded 11 verified excarcelations since the announcement of the amnesty law passed by the National Assembly on 19 February 2026, which aims to free those detained for political reasons dating back to 1999.

On 4 June 2026 Foro Penal confirmed the release of John Jairo Gasparini, former security chief of El Hatillo, who had spent more than six years in prison on charges of treason, conspiracy and association to commit crimes. Gasparini’s case exemplifies the broader pattern of political detentions, as the NGO notes that despite government claims of hundreds of releases, only 48 excarcelations have been independently verified to date.