Venezuela announces the release of 146 election protesters from prison

146 protesters detained during anti-government demonstrations following the presidential election on July 28 have been released, according to Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab.

The government released 1,515 prisoners after Saab’s announcement on Monday.

Additionally, it comes just before Nicolas Maduro’s tense third term is scheduled to take the oath of office on Friday.

In the run-up to the July 28 election, Maduro had been in the back seat behind his rival Edmundo Gonzalez. However, his government announced that he had won the race shortly after the polls closed, without disclosing the voting results’ usual distribution.

The opposition published voting records that it claimed provided evidence that Gonzalez was the legitimate winner, which sparked outcry.

Maduro has faced criticism over his human rights record, and in the face of widespread post-election protests, his government pursued a&nbsp, harsh crackdown against demonstrators.

The government estimates 2, 000 people were detained, and human rights groups indicate 23 protesters were killed.

Since Maduro’s victory in the election, Venezuela’s highest court and electoral body have charged the opposition with conspiring with foreign governments that are unpopular with him. Maduro and his allies have also accused the opposition of conspiring with Venezuela.

The opposition, however, maintains that the government bodies that confirmed Maduro’s victory are stacked with pro-government loyalists.

The opposition’s leaders also assert that Gonzalez won in a tie with Maduro in the precinct-level tallies that were released.

In September, a Venezuelan court issued a warrant for Gonzalez’s arrest, accusing him of usurpation of powers and conspiracy.

Shortly after that, the opposition leader fled Venezuela for Spain. But the Venezuelan government has continued to push for his arrest, even issuing a $100, 000 reward for information on his whereabouts.

Gonzalez will be detained if he “sets foot in Venezuela,” according to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who confirmed this on Monday.

Gonzalez, however, has pledged to return for the beginning of the new presidential term.

The opposition demanded that Venezuela’s armed forces acknowledge Gonzalez as the nation’s true leader in a social media post on Sunday.

“On January 10, by the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people, I must assume the role of commander-in-chief”, said Gonzalez.

In early January, Gonzalez left Spain for Argentina, and he has since been touring countries in an effort to put pressure on the Maduro government, with stops planned for Uruguay and Panama.

Gonzalez would also travel to the White House and meet with incoming President Joe Biden, according to an unidentified American official who spoke to the Associated Press on Monday.

The US is one of several countries that has recognised Gonzalez as Venezuela’s president-elect.

It remains unclear, however, what leverage can be exerted to stop Maduro from beginning his third term on Friday, as he intends to do.

The US has already placed economic sanctions on Maduro and his government, which critics have blamed for worsening Venezuela’s economic crisis.