For years, the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela has incarcerated political opponents and dissidents as a coercion tool. Although dozens of people have been freed in recent months, especially those imprisoned during the July elections protests, Foro Penal, a Caracas-based legal assistance group suggests that nearly 1,000 people remain behind bars for political reasons in the South American country.
That number includes foreign or dual nationals from about 13 different countries. In the past, the regime has used such prisoners as leverage in foreign policy negotiations.
