Venezuela releases 46 political prisoners

Venezuela has released 46 political prisoners, families of detainees said, in the latest operation of its kind after the fall of President Nicolas Maduro.

Most of those released were among 173 workers at PDVSA who were arrested last year on charges including smuggling, sabotage and corruption. The Venezuelan authorities have released hundreds of political prisoners since US forces arrested Maduro during an operation carried out last January.

The amnesty law, which was passed in February, is one of the most important reforms approved by Maduro’s successor, Delcy Rodriguez, under pressure from Washington, but about 500 political prisoners are still behind bars.