Venezuela NGOs report 382 political prisoners, demand release

Venezuelan non‑governmental organisations have documented 382 people detained for political reasons as of 3 August 2026. The balance released by Foro Penal shows 356 men and 26 women, of whom 222 are civilians and 160 are military personnel; 40 detainees hold foreign nationality. The latest update added four new cases and recorded one recent release.

Human‑rights groups including Provea and the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (Clippve) have called for the entry of the Inter‑American Commission on Human Rights and other international bodies to monitor prison conditions, and for the Venezuelan government to withdraw its objection to the Rome Statute. A protest is scheduled for 7 August in front of the Foreign Ministry in Caracas demanding the release of all political prisoners.

Separately, the Venezuelan Prison Observatory reports that 49 inmates died between April and July, averaging one death every three days, attributing the fatalities to severe neglect of medical care. The report blames Penitentiary Service minister Julio García Zerpa for the systemic failures.