Venezuela Frees 413 Protesters Protest Maduro's Victory

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said 413 people arrested for election protests won by Nicolas Maduro would be released. The total number of prisoners released was 1,369 people,

In recent weeks, Saab has announced a series of group releases of more than 2,000 people arrested for participating in protests following elections in July

Venezuela has previously investigated the criminal charges of opposition leaders taking part in elections for inciting police and military officials to violate the law.

The announcement of the Attorney General Tarek Saab follows a letter posted on social network X by opposition candidateruno Gonzalez and leader Maria Corina Machado calling on security forces to "accompany with the people" and respect the election results they won.

President Nicolas Maduro's declaration of victory in the July 28 elections sparked angry protests from the Venezuelan people across the country. The anti-Maduro crowd demanded the president resign and acknowledged Gonzalez's victory.

Venezuelan security forces began targeting people suspected of being perpetrators of violent crimes during the protests.

Three advocacy groups told Reuters security forces arrested protesters, including minors, who they said were not accompanied by lawyers and in some cases accused of terrorism.

Maduro and other officials called the "knick-knock" a way to target those behind the violence in the protests, which they described as " fascist criminals."

"Operation knock-knock is the name given by certain government spokesmans, informally, for increased oppression," said Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of the legal advocacy group Foro Penal.

Called knock-knock because it was a knock on the door that was done in the early hours of the morning.