5 October 2026
322 still held, more than 890 released
Foro Penal counts 322 political prisoners still held, and more than 890 released since the announcement of 8 January 2026.
WHAT WE DO
Human rights and legal advocacy
Venezuela Decides represents political prisoners in Venezuela through its own team of lawyers. Although it is based in the United Kingdom, the organisation has built the structure to advise detainees and to file applications on their behalf, working with lawyers inside the country.
Our concern reaches beyond those widely recognised as political prisoners. It extends to people detained arbitrarily on ordinary criminal charges. Venezuela's justice system has deteriorated to the point where the courts are used to threaten and silence citizens going about normal lives. We work to defend them, and to document how the system has been turned against the people it should protect.
UPDATES
Related news
Newest first, with original dates.
18 September 2026
Reform is needed for real progress
Human Rights Watch said deep reforms are needed for genuine progress on rights, and that releases alone do not end the pattern of abuse.
16 April 2026
Hundreds still arbitrarily detained
Amnesty International reported that hundreds of people remain arbitrarily detained in Venezuela and must be released immediately.
10 September 2025
The machinery of repression remains in place
The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has documented the State’s machinery of repression and called for an end to arbitrary detention.
Historical context. The publication date has been checked against the cited source.
DEMOCRACY. HUMAN RIGHTS. THE RULE OF LAW.