Political prisoners being released from Venezuela’s torture prison, El Helicoide, run by the secret police, show severe signs of torture and trauma. A political prisoner released from the notorious prison, Oscar Castañeda, couldn’t recognise his family members and had to be aided by two person to walk after he was released. The Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that Helicoide was to be closed down.
The Venezuelan government has been compelled by the US government to release all the 800+ political prisoners but so far the releases have taken place gradually with only 350 released so far. Those who were released have also been harassed by the plain-clothes state-security forces called “Colectivos”. Colectivo members followed the freed prisoners to their homes on motorbikes and harassed them in their neighbourhoods.
Oscar Castañeda was arrested after a video of him speaking at a rally for María Corina Machado went viral on the internet. He had travelled from the US to Venezuela for the presidential elections.
Footage below by Alex TVzla.
Newsroom
Leave a Reply