Edison Torres Fernández, a former Venezuelan police officer accused of treason, passed away on Sunday while under the regime's custody, even as political prisoners were being released.
According to Realidad Helicoide, Torres Fernández "died in Zone 7 of the National Police in Boleita, Miranda state. He was 52 years old and had served in the Portuguesa State Police for over 20 years." The report was shared on X.
"He was detained on December 9, 2025, on political grounds and charged with treason and conspiracy. We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners," the statement added.
Following the news of his death, the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office claimed that the political prisoner died on Saturday due to "a sudden decompensation."
"He was promptly taken to a healthcare facility, arriving with vital signs and receiving immediate medical attention. However, he suffered a stroke followed by cardiac arrest, which led to his death," read a statement from Tarek William Saab.
The opposition group Vente Venezuela stated, "This death is neither random nor accidental. It is a crime directly committed by the Venezuelan regime, which bears full responsibility for ensuring the physical integrity and life of every person deprived of liberty."
Since July 2024, eight prisoners have died "under the regime's custody" amid "inhumane detention conditions, prolonged isolation, torture, and cruel treatment," detailed the organization.
Inadequate Progress on Political Prisoner Releases
Opposition figure Edmundo González Urrutia criticized the regime for failing to fulfill "even 1% of the releases" of political prisoners.
"Meanwhile, families remain in suspense. Without clear information, without lists, without certainty," he added.
González mentioned his daughter Mariana González, whose husband, Rafael Tudares Bracho, has been imprisoned by the Chavista regime for a year.
"My daughter has been present every day. Supporting and being supported by mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons who do not ask for privileges. They demand the fulfillment and respect of fundamental rights," said the exiled president-elect in Spain.
"The extended wait is not neutral. It generates anxiety, re-victimizes, and deepens the harm already caused by arbitrary detentions and processes without guarantees. Freedom is not announced. It is executed. Human rights are not administered with delays or opacity. Every hour without answers is a new form of violence against families. The responsibility is clear and time is running," he concluded.
On Saturday afternoon, the release of nurse Yanny Esther González Terán was announced after five months in prison.
Earlier, Virgilio Laverde, the youth coordinator of the Vente Venezuela party in Bolívar state, Didelis Raquel Corredor, assistant to opposition activist Roland Carreño, who is also detained, and Antonio Gerardo Buzzetta Pacheco, an Italian-Venezuelan citizen "arbitrarily detained" since September 30, 2024, were released, confirmed El País.
Families Protest for More Releases
This Saturday, families of detained political prisoners protested near El Helicoide, one of the most notorious detention centers in the country, demanding the promised releases of remaining political prisoners.
Relatives gathered at the entrance of El Helicoide and other prison facilities to denounce the lack of clear official information about who and how many political prisoners will be released, and they have not received confirmation of new releases beyond the symbolic numbers announced so far.
"We know nothing," expressed the demonstrators, accompanied by members of the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPPVE), who have been waiting for official confirmations and demanding the release of all prisoners of conscience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Political Prisoners in Venezuela
How many political prisoners have died under Venezuelan regime's custody since 2024?
Since July 2024, eight political prisoners have reportedly died under the Venezuelan regime's custody.
What did the Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office claim about Edison Torres Fernández's death?
The Venezuelan Prosecutor's Office stated that Edison Torres Fernández died due to a sudden decompensation, which led to a stroke and cardiac arrest.
What is the role of the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPPVE)?
The CLIPPVE advocates for the release of all political prisoners of conscience and has been actively seeking official confirmations about prisoner releases.