Venezuela: Former Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres is Released After Five Years in Prison
After five years in prison, Miguel Rodríguez Torres, a close ally of late president Hugo Chávez and former Minister of Interior and Justice of Venezuela, was released on Saturday, just after his 59th birthday.
The retired military confirmed in a video the release is the result of dialogue tables between Chavismo delegates and the opposition in Mexico.
Rodríguez expressed his gratitude towards Spanish ex-president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, saying he was thankful for his solidarity in achieving this success.
However, Rodriguez also expressed his sadness of leaving his beloved Venezuela.
The Organization of Politically Persecuted Venezuelans in Exile (Veppex) claimed that Rodriguez is “a human rights violator” and not a “political prisoner” and his release is a bid to project that former Chavez members and collaborators are being set free.
Rodriguez was taken from a hotel in Caracas by agents from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service, an organisation that he refounded during the Chavez administration.
He was accused of numerous charges from “actions against peace” to “treason” and “espionage” but was never convicted.
