Students lay out photos of people they consider political prisoners at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)2026-01-13T15:48:54Z GUANARE, Venezuela (AP) Freedom came too late for Edilson Torres.The police officer was buried Tuesday in his humble, rural hometown following his death in a Venezuelan prison, where he was held incommunicado since being detained in December on what his family said were politically motivated accusations. Torres, 51, died of a heart attack Saturday, just as his family awaited the governments promised release of prisoners following the U.S. capture of then-President Nicols Maduro. The loss left his family reeling. Relatives stand beside the coffin during the wake of Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison a month after being arrested on accusations of treason, in Guanare, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Relatives stand beside the coffin during the wake of Edilson Torres, a Venezuelan police officer who died in prison a month after being arrested on accusations of treason, in Guanare, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Now scores of families who once hesitated to approach advocacy groups are coming forward to register their loved ones as political prisoners in the hope that they might have a more optimistic future than Torres.Foro Penal, which tracks and advocates for Venezuelan prisoners, has received a flood of messages from families since last week, said Alfredo Romero, director of the nongovernmental organization.They didnt report it out of fear, and now theyre doing it because, in a way, they feel that there is this possibility that their families will be freed, Romero said. They see it as hope, but more importantly, as an opportunity.Waiting for liberations El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuelas intelligence service and detention center, stands in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the government would release Venezuelan and foreign prisoners. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuelas intelligence service and detention center, stands in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the government would release Venezuelan and foreign prisoners. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The head of Venezuelas national assembly, Jorge Rodrguez, said last week that a significant number of Venezuelan and foreigners imprisoned in the country would be released as a gesture to seek peace following the operation that captured Maduro in the early hours of Jan. 3. The U.S. and Venezuelas opposition have long demanded the widespread release of detained opposition figures, activists and journalists, whom they claim are used as a political tool by the ruling party. Venezuelas government denies that there are prisoners unjustly detained, accusing them of plotting to destabilize Maduros government.Following Torres death, Venezuelas Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a statement that the case had been assigned to a terrorism unit and was linked to criminal activities detected by state security agencies. He did not offer any details, but the vague language tracks with past accusations leveled against real or perceived government critics. Romero said that of the roughly 300 families who reached out to Foro Penal, about 100 cases so far have been confirmed as politically motivated. Most of those reported over the past few days, he said, once worked for Venezuelas military. That is on top of more than 800 people that the organization says continue to be detained for political reasons in Venezuela. As of Tuesday evening, Foro Penal had confirmed 56 prisoners it said were detained for political reasons had been freed. The group criticized the lack of government transparency over the releases. Venezuelas government negated the organizations count, and reported a far higher figure of 400 Tuesday afternoon. But the government did not provide evidence of the releases, a time range in which they were carried out nor identify those freed, making it impossible to determine whether those freed were behind bars for political or other reasons. Pure and real kidnappingBefore Torres funeral on Tuesday, a procession of cars and motorcycles stopped at a local jail, where his wife remains detained on disputed accusations. My little brother, my little brother, Emelyn Torres said between sobs after his casket, cloaked in Venezuelas flag, arrived at her home for the wake. A few feet away, their grandmother nearly fainted as dozens of people crammed into the living room to pay their respects. Relatives and friends of political prisoners hold candles calling for their loved ones to be set free outside the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 after the government announced prisoners would be released. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Relatives and friends of political prisoners hold candles calling for their loved ones to be set free outside the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026 after the government announced prisoners would be released. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Hours earlier, as a minivan transported the body of her brother 267 miles (430 kilometers) from the capital, Caracas, to Guanare, Torres learned that other men linked to the WhatsApp group that led to her brothers arrest had just been released from prison. She wailed. Among those who have been released are: human rights attorney Roco San Miguel, who immediately relocated to Spain; Biagio Pilieri, an opposition leader who was part of Nobel Peace Prize winner Mara Corina Machados 2024 presidential campaign; and Enrique Mrquez, a former electoral authority and presidential candidate.Italian businessman Marco Burl, who was released from prison Monday, told reporters outside a Rome airport Tuesday that he was kept isolated throughout his detention, which he characterized as a pure and real kidnapping. I cant say that I was physically abused, but without being able to talk to our children, without the right to defense, without being able to speak to the lawyer, completely isolated, here they thought that I might have died, he said. Jacklin Ibarreto, whose father Miguel Ibarreto is detained, waits outside the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the government would release Venezuelan and foreign prisoners. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Jacklin Ibarreto, whose father Miguel Ibarreto is detained, waits outside the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the government would release Venezuelan and foreign prisoners. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A rare moment of hopeThe small set of releases over the past few days continues to fuel criticisms by families, human rights watchdogs at the United Nations and U.S. politicians, who have accused the government of not following through on their word of a wider release.But the rapid political shifts in the Latin American nation and the distant possibility of release simultaneously marked a rare moment of hope for many families who have spent years wondering if their loved ones would ever be freed.Part of the reason that Romero said he believed so many people had not come forward is the governments ongoing crackdown on dissent since Venezuelas tumultuous 2024 election, which Maduro claimed to have won despite ample credible evidence to the contrary.As mass street protests broke out, authorities said they detained more than 2,000 people. In the month after July elections, Venezuelas government passed a law dubbed the anti-NGO law by critics making it easier for the government to criminalize human rights groups.That had a chilling effect, Romero said, making families hesitant to come forward until now.___Janetsky reported from Mexico City.___Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america MEGAN JANETSKY Megan Janetsky covers migration, conflict, human rights and politics in Mexico and Central America for The AP based in Mexico City. Previously, she covered Cuba and the Caribbean for The AP and worked as freelance journalist in Colombia, reporting across South America. twitter instagram facebook mailto