Families demand proof of life as Venezuela releases only dozens of political prisoners. Here’s what we know so far

Lee el artículo sobre los presos políticos en Venezuela en español.

Venezuela’s promise last week to release “a significant number” of political prisoners is progressing far slower than many had hoped, as hundreds of families continue to wait in agony for their loved ones to be freed.

Of the more than 800 people considered arbitrarily detained for political reasons, the government had released only 56 individuals as of Monday evening, according to human rights organization Penal Forum.

That count is less than half of the 116 reported by Venezuelan authorities, who did not publish the identities of those freed or say which detention centers they had been released from.

Venezuela began releasing high-profile prisoners on Thursday, including opposition politicians, at the demand of the United States. It said the move was a gesture “to seek peace” with Washington days after US forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in a daring military operation.