The freedom of speech advocate was among the activists arrested before President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in last week.
Venezuelan authorities have released a human rights activist from prison, just days after President Nicolas Maduro was ousted. oath for the third time in the midst of disrupting the voices of opposition leaders.
Carlos Correa, director of the Venezuelan non-profit Espacio Publico, was released early Thursday, his organization said in a statement on television.
A respected university professor and an authority on free speech in Venezuela, Correa was among the dissidents and civil rights activists arrested before the coup. The establishment of Maduro Last Friday.
Human rights group Amnesty International said last week that “helmeted men” arrested Correa without reason on January 7 in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
In a statement released the next day, the group demanded the release of Correa and other Venezuelan detainees human rights activistswhile accusing the Maduro government of waging a “political” shutdown campaign.
“We want Nicolas Maduro to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, and, while in government custody, to protect his life and safety, his right to freedom from torture, and to ensure a fair trial,” Amnesty International said.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also called for Correa's release.
We demand the freedom of Carlos Correa and all human rights defenders in Venezuela. https://t.co/gLRg95LNyP pic.twitter.com/RMsueuMUzT
– Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) January 15, 2025
Maduro was sworn in for a third term on January 10, months after Venezuela's election officials declared victory in a July vote.
But the country's opposition parties have insisted that their leader Edmundo Gonzalez defeated Maduro.
Opposition leaders have criticized the government – which has failed to release detailed results – a steal the election in favor of Maduro.
But the long-serving president, who took office after the death of Venezuela's leftist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013, spoke with disdain.
“May this new term of the presidency be a time of peace, of development, of a new democracy,” Maduro said during his swearing-in ceremony, pledging to uphold the country's constitution.
“I swear by history, on my life, and I will fulfill (my duty).”
The inauguration took place a day after another opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, he was briefly arrested after appearing in public to lead protests against Maduro's regime.
#Venezuela: UN Human Rights Commissioner @volker_turk deeply concerned by reports of increased detentions and intimidation, including human rights defender Carlos Correa & members of the opposition and their families.
Now is the time to work to reduce conflict and reduce the risk of… pic.twitter.com/Zc1MPoQcNK
UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) January 9, 2025
According to Espacio Publico, an organization run by Correa, more than 400 newspapers, radio stations and TV channels have been closed over the past two decades in Venezuela, in a reduction that began under Chavez and was extended by Maduro.
On Wednesday, Correa's wife said her husband was brought to an anti-terror court last week, but she had no information on the charges against him or where he was being held.
Rights groups and media organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed the news of Correa's release.
“The leader of (Espacio Publico) could not spend a single day in prison,” RSF said. post on social media platform X.