A well-known Venezuelan human rights activist walked free on Sunday after spending more than four years in detention. He said prison life brought deep suffering. His release comes as authorities move forward with a wider amnesty for political prisoners under international pressure.

Javier Tarazona, 43, left the Helicoide prison in Caracas after more than four years behind bars. Authorities had jailed him on charges that included terrorism and treason.

“The Truth Set Me Free,” Tarazona Says

Soon after his release, Tarazona spoke to AFP. He said, “The message remains the same: four years and seven months in prison did not silence the truth. The truth set me free.”

Tarazona described his time in jail as brutal. He said he spent “1,675 days in a dark place.” He added, “It cannot be possible for this kind of case to keep happening.”

Emotional Scenes Outside Caracas Church

Authorities released Tarazona outside a church in Caracas, not at the prison gates. This is a common practice in Venezuela.

Supporters gathered at La Candelaria church. They shouted “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” and clapped as Tarazona arrived. Catholic faithful filled the forecourt.

Tarazona reunited with his brother and his mother, Teresa de Jesus Sanchez Garcia, who is 71. The moment turned emotional.

Soon after, Omar de Dios Garcia joined them. Police had arrested him on July 2, 2021, while he was with Tarazona. The three men had once shared the same cell for four months. They hugged for a long time.

“Javier is free at last,” his brother Rafael told AFP.

The men prayed together. They then left as the crowd continued to applaud.

Hope and Calls for Freedom

Tarazona said the crowd’s reaction reflected a deeper desire. “People are applauding out of a great longing for freedom, out of hope for reunions among Venezuelans, out of joy,” he said.

He added, “People fervently wish that we can embrace one another with joy, with enthusiasm. Without fear.”

Amnesty and Political Developments

Tarazona’s release marks another step by Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, to free political prisoners. She has faced pressure from Washington to release detainees.

The United States removed Nicolas Maduro from power on January 3. Washington has since declared that it is effectively running the country.

Authorities freed Tarazona two days after Rodriguez announced the closure of Helicoide prison. She also unveiled a general amnesty law.

These moves followed a dramatic operation weeks earlier. US forces attacked Caracas, captured Maduro, and took him and his wife, Cilia Flores, to New York. They now face US drug-trafficking charges.

Political Prisoners Still Behind Bars

Tarazona ranks among Venezuela’s most prominent political detainees. Rights groups estimate that around 1,000 political prisoners remain in the country.

The rights group Foro Penal says authorities still hold 711 political prisoners. The government has begun releasing some detainees. However, families and activists say the pace remains slow. They expect the amnesty to speed up the process.

Why Tarazona’s Case Matters

Tarazona leads Fundaredes, a human rights NGO. Amnesty International and other groups had repeatedly demanded his release.

Police arrested him in July 2021. Prosecutors accused him of treason, terrorism, and incitement to hatred.

He gained prominence for reporting clashes along the Colombia-Venezuela border. He documented fighting between Venezuelan forces and guerrilla groups across the porous 2,000-kilometer frontier.

Fundaredes had also accused the Maduro government of sheltering Colombian guerrilla leaders inside Venezuela.