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Following the release of a small number of persons arbitrarily detained in Venezuela on 8 January 2026 out of a total of around one thousand politically-motivated arbitrary detainees (according to local civil society organizations), which included prisoner of conscience Rocío San Miguel and Spanish nationals like Jose María Basoa and Andrés Martínez, as well as political leader Enrique Márquez and journalist Biagio Pilieri, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said: 

“The end of each arbitrary detention is a necessary and long-awaited-for relief for the victims who have been released. The fact that unfairly detained persons, such as prisoner of conscience Rocío San Miguel, have been able to reunite with their loved ones is good news. This does not mean these measures are enough, considering the fact that hundreds remain arbitrarily detained for political reasons, including human rights defenders such as Kennedy Tejeda, Javier Tarazona, Eduardo Torres, and Carlos Julio Rojas. Amnesty International demands their immediate release and that of the hundreds of persons who remain detained and whose families and communities await their freedom, following the announcements made by the Rodríguez government.”  

Amnesty International demands their immediate release and that of the hundreds of persons who remain detained and whose families and communities await their freedom, following the announcements made by the Rodríguez government.”  

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

“We want to recognize the tireless struggle of the families and the organizations that accompany them; we join their call for justice and reparations, and for guarantees that no one else will be detained for political reasons in Venezuela,” Piquer added. 

Amnesty International rejects that any of those released -having been a victim of politically-motivated arbitrary detention- continues to be subjected to arbitrary and discriminatory investigations and criminal proceedings by the Venezuelan authorities. These proceedings often include measures that restrict their personal liberty, such as prohibition from leaving the country or periodic reporting before a court, but they also perpetuate fear and the revictimization of victims. That is why the organization reiterates its call for all releases to be accompanied by the definitive and unconditional closure of criminal proceedings against each victim. 

“The fact that the Venezuelan government’s policy of repression remains intact and in force should not go unnoticed. On 3 January, a state of external commotion was established by executive decree, which includes an article urging authorities to ‘search for and capture throughout the national territory any person involved in the promotion or support of the armed attack by the United States of America against the territory of the Republic.’” 

Just this week, in the days prior to these releases, the organization received numerous reports of new arbitrary detentions, including 14 journalists who were subsequently released. The cruel revolving door of detentions and releases must cease once and for all. 

The widespread and systematic practice of politically motivated arbitrary detentions is part of a state policy that seeks to silence dissent, whether real or perceived as such. These are crimes against humanity that are being investigated by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, as well as by national courts under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Amnesty International recalls that, to the extent that people continue to be arbitrarily detained for political reasons – some in urgent need of medical attention, such as Emirlendris Benítez – we are talking about a serious human rights violation and a crime under international law which is being committed by the Venezuelan authorities to this day. 

“We call in the strongest terms to dismantle the policy of repression, cease arbitrary detentions for political reasons, and investigate people – up to the highest level – who have individual criminal responsibility for these serious violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.” 

“We call in the strongest terms to dismantle the policy of repression,  cease arbitrary detentions  for political reasons, and investigate people – up to the highest level – who have individual criminal responsibility for these serious violations of  human rights and crimes against humanity.” 

Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact press@amnesty.org

The post Venezuela: Arbitrary detentions must end and all victims must be immediately released appeared first on Amnesty International.

Following an internet and telecommunications blackout imposed by Iranian authorities on 8 January 2026, as nationwide protests intensified since erupting on 28 December 2025, Rebecca White, researcher at Amnesty International’s Security Lab, said:  

“The Iranian authorities have once again deliberately blocked internet access inside Iran to hide the true extent of the grave human rights violations and crimes under international law they are carrying out to crush the largest nationwide protests since the Woman Life Freedom uprising in 2022. This blanket internet shutdown not only hides human rights violations but amounts to a serious human rights violation in itself. 

“Access to the internet is a basic human right and indispensable in times of protest. States have repeatedly used shutdowns as a tool to silence dissent and hide the truth. Internet shutdowns plunge people into digital darkness, blocking those inside the country from receiving information or sharing it with the outside world. This is entirely intentional. It prevents human rights violations, including unlawful killings by security forces, from being documented and perpetuates impunity for these state crimes.  

Rebecca White, researcher at Amnesty International’s Security Lab

“Iranian authorities have previously used internet shutdowns to throttle communications and access to information. In November 2019, security forces unlawfully killed hundreds of protesters and bystanders during five days of protests while authorities imposed a near total internet shutdown. The authorities again imposed internet shutdowns during the Woman Life Freedom uprising of September-December 2022 as security forces unlawfully killed hundreds of protesters and bystanders.

“The right to protest extends to digital spaces. Blanket or total internet cuts are inherently disproportionate under international human rights law, and must never be imposed, even in cases of emergency. Iranian authorities must immediately restore full internet access. 

“With reports of a rising death toll in Iran, Amnesty International reiterates its calls for urgent global diplomatic action, warning of the risk of further bloodshed amid the internet blackout providing cover for security forces who commit grave violations.” 

Background   

Since 28 December 2025, Iranian authorities have carried out a violent crackdown on protesters across the country, involving unlawful use of force, firearms and mass arbitrary arrests. The crackdown has resulted in the killing of at least 28 protesters and bystanders, including children, in 13 cities across eight provinces between 31 December 2025 and 3 January 2026. Amnesty International is investigating reports that security forces have intensified their use of unlawful lethal force since imposing the internet shutdown, causing further deaths and injuries.  

Protests erupted on 28 December 2025 in Iran’s capital, Tehran, triggered by a sharp currency collapse and soaring inflation. They have since spread nationwide, with protesters calling for the fall of the Islamic Republic system.  

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