Venezuelan families push for political prisoner release ahead of August dialogue

Since June 7, families of political prisoners have camped outside the U.S. embassy in Caracas, demanding that the release of all detainees be made the top priority in the upcoming dialogue scheduled for August 1 between the government‑dominated National Assembly and an opposition delegation led by ex‑deputy Dinorah Figuera. They cite more than 500 political prisoners, many of whom were allegedly beaten, shot with pellets and subjected to tear‑gas at the Rodeo I prison after the June 24 earthquakes that left over 4,800 dead.

The protesters appealed to the United States to pressure Venezuelan officials, naming Delcy Rodríguez, Julio García Zerpa and Diosdado Cabello as responsible for the continued detentions. Lawyer Eduardo Torres called for an immediate general amnesty and called Rodríguez “the one who holds the key.” The families argue that the dialogue cannot proceed while hundreds remain imprisoned, urging humanitarian measures and the restoration of basic rights.