"Relatives of detainees held in Venezuelan prisons demonstrated on Tuesday near the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), calling for the release of their loved ones. Footage filmed on 13 January shows members of the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Venezuela (Clippve) holding placards and photographs of detainees, urging the authorities to honour the January 8 promise by president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, to begin releasing prisoners. Rodriguez announced the release of a ‘significant number’ of detainees - including both Venezuelans and foreign nationals - describing the move as a unilateral gesture aimed at consolidating peace and peaceful coexistence in the country. “We will remain here in this struggle,” said Francis Quinones, a relative of one detainee. “We respectfully ask those now in charge of the Venezuelan government to give us, at the very least, proof of life. What we want is freedom.” During the demonstration, participants said they had been denied information about the health and detention conditions of their relatives and called for guarantees of fundamental rights. “This is an act of justice,” said Oscar Murillo, a human rights defender and general coordinator of PROVEA, the Venezuelan Programme of Education and Action on Human Rights. “These Venezuelans have been denied the right to defence and due process, and have been imprisoned under arbitrary conditions and confinement.” According to official figures presented on Tuesday by Rodriguez, Venezuela has released more than 400 prisoners since December - a claim that has been questioned by human rights organisations."