Washington and Caracas exchange detainees, including two nephews of the First Lady of Venezuela

The Biden administration is under pressure to secure the release of the 60 Americans detained around the world.

AFP

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1 min

US President Joe Biden announced on Saturday October 1 the release by Venezuela of seven American prisoners " 

", Caracas announcing in parallel that two Venezuelans, identified as the nephews of the wife of President Maduro, had also been released by Washington.

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With our correspondent in New York,

This is the result of negotiations carried out in secret, lasting nearly seven months.

The exchange of prisoners took place in a country kept secret, located between the United States and Venezuela.

An operation validated by Joe Biden himself who welcomed the return of seven American citizens to their families.

Among these American prisoners, five executives of a Texas oil company detained by the Venezuelan authorities since 2017, a former Marine arrested in 2020 and another citizen arrested last January.

About sixty American detainees around the world

In exchange for these citizens, Washington had to release two Venezuelans, the nephews of the wife of Nicolas Maduro, convicted in 2016 of drug trafficking.

A difficult decision, explained Joe Biden.

This operation takes place while the Biden administration is under pressure to obtain the release of the sixty Americans detained around the world.

At least four people remain in Venezuela and it is known that Washington is still trying to secure the release of professional basketball player

convicted in Russia.

Talks that do not yield much at the moment.

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• Venezuela

• United States

• Nicola Maduro

• Joe Biden