Venezuela: UN independent investigators call for immediate release of all political prisoners

“Any step that restores liberty to individuals who have been arbitrarily detained is significant for those concerned and for their families,” independent UN human rights investigators said in a press release on Monday.

The Human Rights Council-mandated Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela estimates that there are around 800 political prisoners in the country and said the partial release fell short of the Government’s human rights obligations for their immediate and unconditional release.

The move comes as the country is adapting to new leadership under Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has called on the Venezuelan authorities and the United States to ensure full respect for international law and has expressed concern over further militarisation in the country.

‘A tool of repression’ 

The fact-finding mission has extensively documented what it characterised as the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention as a tool of repression and reiterated its call for the ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of all political prisoners. 

The experts also urged authorities to provide public information about prisoners and bring detention conditions in line with international law, including by immediately halting torture and cruel treatment. 

“Relatives must be provided with clear and timely information about the fate, whereabouts, and legal status of their loved ones, as well as guaranteed access and regular visits,” they said.

Investigators said they had received information about armed colectivos, or Government-backed armed groups, who have been reportedly patrolling cities and intimidating the population since the US operation, while fresh arrests have been made during the crisis for those expressing dissenting political opinions.

Past findings 

The independent fact-finding mission for Venezuela has cited multiple rights violations since it was established in 2019.

In its investigation into the country’s contested presidential elections in 2024, the mission’s findings included arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and torture.

This mission said the authorities had failed to comply with recommendations to investigate human rights violations and implement measures to prevent their reoccurrence. 

Investigators also found that during the peak of protests in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024, officials of Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard used excessive force, including the improper use of lethal and less-lethal weapons, among other violations.