On December 21, 2024, the Venezuelan government released journalist Ana Carolina Guaita, who had been detained on terrorism charges following the contentious re-election of President Nicolás Maduro. Guaita, a reporter for the critical news outlet La Patilla, was arrested on August 2 in La Guaira while covering protests that erupted after the July 28 elections, which resulted in widespread unrest.
The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) confirmed her release, noting she spent over four months in police custody. The protests against Maduro's re-election led to 27 fatalities, nearly 200 injuries, and over 2,400 arrests, including many minors.
This release comes shortly after the Venezuelan Attorney General announced 200 new releases as part of a case review plan. Official reports claim a total of 733 individuals have been released, a figure contested by the NGO Foro Penal, which argues the actual number is lower.
Guaita is also the daughter of prominent political figures associated with the Copei party, both of whom are currently outside the country. The National Journalists' College reported that a dozen journalists remain incarcerated, including those involved in political activism.
The NGO Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners announced the release of 60 political detainees following the July elections. They indicated that many were clandestinely transported from prisons using official vehicles and ambulances, often left at terminals without means to return home.
Discrepancies between official release numbers and those reported by NGOs have raised concerns, with the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners questioning the accuracy of the government's figures. They noted ongoing governmental opacity regarding information on detainees and alleged coercion against released individuals and their families.
Recent releases have coincided with new arrests, including members of the Vente Venezuela party and local political figures. Additionally, reports of three deaths in custody have emerged, prompting calls from the opposition coalition for documentation by the International Criminal Court regarding potential crimes against humanity in Venezuela.