Elections and the release of prisoners: the demands following the first round of dialogue in Venezuela

Following the conclusion of the first cycle of dialogue in Caracas on Thursday, August 13, factions of the Venezuelan opposition and human rights NGOs called for negotiations between a sector of the opposition and the ruling administration to address key national issues. Specifically, these groups demanded that future talks incorporate the electoral agenda, the release of political prisoners, and the restoration of autonomy to the Central Bank.

However, the process drew immediate criticism from prominent civil society organizations. Venezuelan NGOs Acceso a la Justicia and Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP) publicly lamented the omission of political prisoners from the initial negotiating table, highlighting concerns over the scope and inclusivity of the ongoing dialogue between the chavismo and the participating opposition faction.