Venezuela’s authoritarian government, facing more and tougher international sanctions, said it freed 39 political prisoners Friday in a bid to ease tensions in the crisis-racked nation.
Human-rights groups and the political opposition said the release was a desperate attempt by President Nicolás Maduro to legitimize his government in the face of mounting economic turmoil. The release followed Venezuela’s decision last week to free a Utah man held for two years without trial on espionage charges.
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