By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-09-04 16:56:22 | Updated at 2026-09-04 17:43:35
1 hour ago
VENEZUELA · JUSTICE
Key Facts
—What happened: On 3 September Foro Penal reported at least 94 political prisoners transferred out of El Rodeo I.
—How big it is: Foro Penal has verified the destination jail in only 24 of those cases.
—What it means: Foro Penal cannot yet say where most of the men were taken.
—The catch: Most destinations remain unverified, and families were not informed in advance.
—Who it hits: The transferred prisoners and their families face uncertainty about locations.
—What comes next: Foro Penal is still checking where the other detainees were taken.
A rights group says dozens of political prisoners were moved from a Venezuelan jail, but only some destinations are known.
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What Foro Penal reported
Foro Penal, a Venezuelan rights group that tracks political prisoners, reported the transfers on 3 September. Its vice president, Gonzalo Himiob, gave the figure in a statement at 3:45 p.m.
Himiob said the group had received information of “at least 94 transfers of political prisoners from El Rodeo I.” He spoke in Spanish.
He added that Foro Penal had “verified 24 cases in which the destination jail is already known.”
The group is still checking the other cases. Himiob said, “We continue verifying the information.”
Foro Penal did not name the destination prisons in its initial statement. The group has not offered an explanation for the movements.
What El Rodeo I is
El Rodeo I is one of three jails in the El Rodeo complex, near Guatire in Miranda state. It was built in 1980 to hold about 750 inmates.
Foro Penal says political prisoners were among those held there. The prison has also held common criminals over the years.
Riots there in mid-2011 killed more than 30 inmates. About 2,500 prisoners were moved out afterwards.
Its exact population is not public. Venezuelan authorities have given no reason for the transfers.
The numbers: 94 transfers, 24 confirmed
The key figure is at least 94 reported transfers. But only 24 have a known destination, according to Foro Penal.
That leaves at least 70 cases where Foro Penal has not yet confirmed the destination jail. The group has not said whether the families of those detainees know where they are.
A second group, Clippve, has located at least 32 of the transferred prisoners. They were taken to Yare and Fuerte Guaicaipuro in Miranda state, and to La Planta in Caracas.
Clippve is the Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos. It campaigns for the release of political prisoners.
Foro Penal’s count of 328 was made before the transfers. The group has not said how the movements affect the count.
How the count is put together
Foro Penal compiles its counts from reports by families, lawyers, and other sources. The group updates its numbers regularly as prisoners are released or new arrests occur.
The Venezuelan government does not publish its own count and denies that political prisoners exist. This makes independent verification hard.
Foro Penal’s numbers are based on its own tracking. The government may dispute them or say the detainees are common criminals.
The transfers add another layer of difficulty. Prisoners moved without notice may vanish from the count.
What the families know
Clippve raised the alarm on 2 September, as buses entered the prison. It said some men were moved without their families being told.
The opposition delegation at the dialogue table with the government raised the issue the next day. Dinorah Figuera, who heads the delegation and presides over the National Assembly elected in 2015, asked for the transfers to be reviewed.
Families are demanding direct contact with the prisoners, visits within the week, and full disclosure of destinations. Foro Penal is working to confirm destinations.
Until then, families are left waiting. They do not know if their relative is safe or where they are held.
The lack of notice is the core of the complaint. Families say they learned about the moves only through the news.
Some families have not heard from their relatives since the transfer. They do not know which prison to call or visit.
What a transfer means in Venezuela
In Venezuela, moving a prisoner between jails is a routine administrative act. But it becomes serious when the family is not told.
Venezuelan law requires prison authorities to inform the family of a prisoner’s location. The rules also require that lawyers be able to reach their clients.
Rights groups say these rules are often ignored in practice. A transfer without notice can leave a prisoner unreachable for weeks.
Lawyers lose contact when a client is moved without warning. They cannot file papers or prepare a defense if they do not know where the person is.
Foro Penal has not said whether the law was broken in these cases. It has only said that destinations are still being verified.
How the count has fallen in 2026
The count of political prisoners has fallen sharply in 2026. Releases began that January, after the capture of Nicolás Maduro on 3 January.
The incoming government announced a first wave of freings soon afterwards. An amnesty law then took effect on 19 February 2026.
An amnesty law then entered into force on 19 February 2026, producing 109 full releases. Foro Penal counted 436 people released from detention between 8 January and 24 February.
Foro Penal reported more than 573 political prisoners still detained as of 24 February 2026. By April, that number had dropped to 490.
It fell again to 404 in June. As of 31 August 2026, the count stood at 328.
What this means for the government-opposition talks
The transfers come as the government and opposition hold dialogue talks. The governing party, known as chavismo, has been in talks with the opposition since Maduro’s capture.
Opposition negotiators at the talks raised the transfers. They worry that moving prisoners without notice could undermine trust.
The talks have already produced some prisoner releases. More than 1,000 people have been let out of detention since January, according to Diario Libre’s account of the process.
No official response from the government has been reported. The impact on negotiations remains unclear.
What happens next
Foro Penal says it will keep verifying the transfers. It expects to release more information as destinations are confirmed.
The group has not said when it will publish an updated list. Families and lawyers are pressing for answers.
The Venezuelan government has not commented on the transfers. No official statement has been made.
Observers will watch whether the prisoners appear in future counts. If they disappear, that could signal a problem.
Foro Penal may also take legal action if it finds rights violations. The group has not announced any such step yet.
The dialogue talks could be affected if the transfers continue. Opposition leaders have already called for a review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Foro Penal?
Foro Penal is a Venezuelan non-governmental organization that tracks political prisoners. It provides legal aid and reports on detentions.
How many political prisoners are in Venezuela?
As of 31 August 2026, Foro Penal counted 328 political prisoners. This number changes as people are released or arrested.
Why were prisoners transferred from El Rodeo I?
The reason is not confirmed. Foro Penal only reports that at least 94 were moved to other prisons.
Are the transferred prisoners safe?
There is no information on their condition. Foro Penal is verifying their locations.
What can families do?
Families can contact Foro Penal for help. The group is working to confirm where the prisoners are.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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