Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of the Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González, has been released from prison, according to his wife, Mariana González. Tudares had spent over a year imprisoned amid the government crackdown on critics of Nicolás Maduro.
His release follows a turbulent period marked by a US military operation that led to the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Mariana González reported that her husband was finally freed after '380 days of unjust and arbitrary detention', highlighting the toll the detention took on their family. Tudares was one of over 150 detainees released recently, as human rights organizations continue to advocate for hundreds of others still detained.
The current political climate in Venezuela remains fraught, with Delcy Rodríguez now serving as the acting president. Her government has garnered US support, particularly after agreeing to send significant oil resources to the US as a goodwill gesture.
However, rights groups have criticized the slow pace of prisoner releases and reported that many who have been freed still face legal challenges and restrictions on their ability to speak publicly.
Tudares’s case epitomizes the repression that has intensified following the controversial 2024 presidential elections, where González emerged as a major contender against Maduro, only to face significant opposition tactics including imprisonment.
Mariana González expressed gratitude towards those who supported her husband's release while emphasizing that many families are still waiting for their loved ones who remain unjustly detained.
