After a distressing wait of 17 months, Manuel Alejandro, a humanitarian worker with the Danish Refugee Council, finally regained his freedom and was reunited with his family on Colombian soil.

Manuel, 33, had been arbitrarily detained in September 2024 by the Venezuelan guard in the state of Apure, while he was carrying out an assistance mission in the border area.

His release took place this Sunday in an operation that took him from the El Rodeo I prison, in Caracas, to the Tienditas bridge in Cúcuta, where he was handed over to the Colombian Migration authorities.

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During his captivity, the Colombian faced extreme conditions: he did not have access to technical defense, he was denied consulate services and he was only allowed to make one phone call to his relatives in all that time.

Furthermore, regime figures such as Diosdado Cabello publicly accused him of belonging to a paramilitary network, without presenting any evidence.

Although the Colombian Foreign Ministry managed to manage the departure of 17 people last year, the reality is that there are still at least 20 Colombians deprived of their liberty for political reasons in Venezuelan territory.

The families of these detainees maintain an urgent call to the National Government to intensify dialogue with the administration of Delcy Rodríguez, who recently announced the closure of the El Helicoide prison and an alleged opening for the release of political prisoners in the neighboring country.

The arrival of Manuel Alejandro in Bogotá, where he will undergo medical check-ups to evaluate the consequences of his imprisonment, represents a victory for international NGOs.

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