Seven Americans freed in Venezuela after prisoner swap


by Humeyra Pamuk and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Venezuela on Saturday released seven Americans, including five oil executives, in exchange for the release of two close associates of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, US officials said.

The US nationals have been swapped for two of Nicolas Maduro’s wife’s nephews, jailed in the US on drug charges, officials said.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that “wrongfully detained” Americans “will soon be with their families and back in the arms of their loved ones, where they belong.”

“Today we celebrate the fact that seven families will be reunited again. All the families who still suffer and who are separated from their wrongly detained loved ones, know that we remain determined to secure their release,” said Joe Biden.

This release follows secret talks between the United States and the government of Nicolas Maduro, which is the subject of severe American sanctions.

It comes at a time when Washington is under strong pressure to obtain the release of dozens of Americans detained abroad, notably in Russia. (Humeyra Pamuk and Matt Spetalnick; French version Nicolas Delame)



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