Amid ongoing releases of political prisoners following Nicolás Maduro's ouster, Venezuelan authorities allowed family visits to El Rodeo I prison for the first time in over a year, including to Argentine gendarme Nahuel Gallo. Human rights groups welcome the step but press for faster full releases as 800-1,200 remain detained.
Building on initial prisoner releases announced earlier this month—including opposition leaders and Spanish nationals—Venezuelan authorities on Sunday permitted family visits to El Rodeo I (now CESMAS) prison outside Caracas, where Nahuel Agustín Gallo has been held since December 2024.
Families underwent strict protocols, entering hooded and communicating via glass partition while delivering hygiene items. Gallo's mother, Griselda Heredia del Valle, called the experience 'very hard,' highlighting over a year's uncertainty about his condition.
The visits coincide with continued releases under interim President Delcy Rodríguez: Foro Penal reported 17-21 freed by Sunday, up from prior announcements, though families criticize the pace and last-minute notifications. An estimated 800-1,200 political detainees remain.
Tragedy marked the process with the death in custody of police officer Edison José Torres Fernández, arrested for alleged treason. Relatives protested outside, chanting 'Justice and freedom!' Ángeles Tirado, awaiting five family members' release, said: 'We didn't come to visit, we came to get them.'
U.S. President Donald Trump touted the developments, claiming U.S. influence via oil embargoes and naval presence. Gallo's family hopes for his imminent release and return to Argentina, as calls for transparency intensify.
