Venezuela opposition says policeman accused of 'treason' died in custody

A detained police officer accused of "treason" against Venezuela died in state custody, opposition parties and rights groups said Saturday, as the country's interim government moved to free political prisoners.

The releases, which started on Thursday, are the first since ousted ruler Nicolas Maduro's former deputy Delcy Rodriguez took over with the backing of US President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he is content to let her govern as long as she gives Washington access to its vast reserves of oil.

Maduro was captured along with his wife on January 3 in a shock nighttime raid in Caracas and taken to New York City by US forces to stand trial on a raft of charges.

Prisoners' rights groups and the opposition said only 21 people had been released by Saturday evening, including several prominent opposition figures.

Rights groups estimate there are 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela.

Primero Justicia (Justice First), which is part of the Venezuelan political opposition alliance, denounced the death of officer Edison Jose Torres Fernandez, 52, who the organization claimed was arrested in December "for sharing critical messages against the regime."

"We directly hold the regime of Delcy Rodriguez responsible for this death," it said in a statement on X.

Rights group, The Committee of Relatives for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPPVE), said the police officer had served for two decades and was "unofficially, charged with crimes of treason against the homeland" in a separate statement on X.

They said there was "no official information about the circumstances or cause" of Torres Fernandez's death and that it was unclear what medical attention, if any, he would have received while in custody.

"This lack of information and transparency holds the State responsible for his life and integrity," the CLIPPVE added.

Since 2014, 18 political prisoners have died in custody in Venezuela, according to several human rights organizations.

According to the NGO Foro Penal, Venezuela currently has more than 800 political prisoners and challenges to the victory of Maduro in the 2024 presidential election is claimed to have led to the arrest of 2,400 people.

More than 2,000 have been subsequently released, according to official figures.