SAN SALVADOR: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Sunday (Apr 20) proposed sending 252 Venezuelans deported from the US and imprisoned in his country to Venezuela, in exchange for taking “political prisoners” held by Venezuela.
In a post on X, Bukele asked that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro hand over 252 “of the political prisoners you are holding,” under his proposed deal.
The Salvadoran leader did not say whether the prisoners would be incarcerated again upon an exchange.
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Tarek William Saab criticised Bukele’s proposal and accused El Salvador of unlawfully detaining 252 Venezuelans.
In a statement, Saab demanded to know what crimes the detainees are accused of, whether they have appeared before a judge, have access to legal counsel, or have been allowed to contact family members.
Among those Bukele proposed for release from Venezuela were journalist Roland Carreno, human rights lawyer Rocio San Miguel and Corina Parisca de Machado, mother of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who he said is subjected to daily threats at her home.
He also mentioned nearly 50 detainees of other nationalities, including US, German and French citizens, as part of the proposed exchange.
Adam Boehler, US special envoy for hostage response, praised the move in a post on X, and said that 10 Americans were among the 50 detainees proposed for the exchange.
Bukele said his Foreign Ministry would formally present the proposal to the Venezuelan government through diplomatic channels.
Source: CNA
