### Venezuela's Christmas Gesture: Release of 99 Political Prisoners Amid Ongoing Scrutiny - In a significant move, the Venezuelan government announced the release of 99 individuals detained during the protests following the controversial 2024 presidential election. This decision comes as the country faces mounting international pressure and scrutiny regarding its human rights record and political practices. The release is framed as a goodwill gesture by President Nicolás Maduro's administration, which is currently assessing the circumstances surrounding the arrests made after the election [https://www.firstpost.com/world/venezuela-frees-99-prisoners-detained-during-2024-election-protests-ngos-demand-release-of-900-others-13963189.html][https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2025/12/26/venezuela-releases-99-post-election-prisoners-on-christmas]. ### Structure of the Response: Key Segments 1. **Context of the Release**: Overview of the political climate in Venezuela post-2024 election. 2. **Details of the Release**: Specifics about the number of prisoners released and the government's rationale. 3. **International Reaction**: Insights into how the international community, particularly the U.S., is responding to this development. 4. **Ongoing Advocacy**: The role of NGOs and human rights organizations in advocating for the release of remaining political prisoners. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Prisoner Release**: The Venezuelan government confirmed the release of 99 prisoners, which is the largest single release in 2025 [https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/amp/venezuela-releases-99-post-election-prisoners-217217]. - **Goodwill Gesture**: Officials described the release as a goodwill act during the Christmas season, aimed at fostering dialogue and assessing the situation post-election [https://manilastandard.net/news/world/314684955/venezuela-releases-99-post-election-prisoners-on-christmas-as-goodwill-act.html]. - **NGO Demands**: Human rights organizations are calling for the release of an additional 900 individuals still detained, highlighting ongoing concerns about political repression in Venezuela [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/law-order/3742411-venezuela-releases-protesters-amid-us-pressure]. ### Summary of Findings 1. **Release of 99 Prisoners**: Venezuela's government has released 99 individuals detained during protests following the 2024 election, citing goodwill as the reason for this action. 2. **International Scrutiny**: The release occurs amid increasing pressure from the international community, particularly from the United States, which questions the legitimacy of Maduro's leadership. 3. **Continued Advocacy**: Despite this release, NGOs continue to advocate for the freedom of hundreds of other political prisoners, indicating that the situation remains critical. 4. **Political Context**: The backdrop of this release is a politically charged environment in Venezuela, where human rights concerns are at the forefront of international discussions. In conclusion, while the release of 99 prisoners may be seen as a positive step, the broader context of political repression and the demand for the release of many more detainees underscores the ongoing challenges facing Venezuela [https://news.az/news/maduro-announces-release-of-99-political-prisoners][https://www.telesurenglish.net/venezuela-frees-99-people-arrested-after-2024-post-election-violence].