Venezuela to free 300 detainees amid scrutiny over political prisoner death
National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez announced that about 300 inmates will be released this week, citing humanitarian criteria such as advanced age, pregnancy, health conditions and other vulnerable circumstances. The releases include some individuals classified by human‑rights groups as political prisoners.
The announcement comes as acting President Delcy Rodríguez ordered a rigorous investigation into the July 2025 death of Victor Hugo Quero Navas, who died while in state custody. The government confirmed that Quero died of acute respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism after being transferred to a military hospital. His mother, Carmen Teresa Navas, who spent months searching for him, died shortly after learning of his death.
The Venezuelan Medical Federation called for the activation of the UN‑backed Minnesota and Istanbul protocols to ensure an independent forensic inquiry into Quero’s death. International NGOs, including Amnesty International, have been invited to participate in a national justice reform consultation. The series of events highlights ongoing concerns over due‑process violations and the treatment of political detainees in Venezuela.