The United States believes the recent release of a number of political prisoners in Venezuela does not solve the political crisis in the country nor it changes the fact that there are no conditions for free and fair elections, according to United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Thursday
On Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pardoned 110 citizens, with more than 20 of them being opposition lawmakers.
“The Maduro regime’s announcement of conditional dismissal of criminal charges against roughly one-third of the political prisoners it holds does not solve, nor even address, Venezuela’s underlying political crisis.
“Conditions for free and fair elections do not exist in Venezuela and the release of a number of political prisoners does not change that,” Pompeo said.
He noted that hundreds of political prisoners still remain under arrest in Venezuela and members of the country’s opposition continue to be harassed and threatened.
He added that many opponents to the Maduro government were prohibited from running for office and the National Electoral Commission was under the government’s control.
The United States and the international community will not contribute to permitting yet another electoral fraud in Venezuela and are urging all democratic actors to insist on the internationally accepted standards for free and fair elections.
The United States State Department has urged its partners to reject the results of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Venezuela scheduled for Dec. 6.
Edited By: Emmanuel Yashim (NAN)
