Venezuelan Judge María Afiuni has been fully released after 16 years of detention, initially arrested in 2009 for granting precautionary measures to Eligio Cedeño, a victim of arbitrary detention. Human rights organization Provea states that while her release is welcome, it does not rectify the years of persecution she endured. Afiuni’s case became a symbol of the erosion of judicial independence under successive Venezuelan governments. Her arrest and lengthy imprisonment drew international criticism, with many viewing it as politically motivated. Provea emphasizes that accountability for the abuses she suffered remains crucial. The organization highlights the need to address the systematic persecution faced by other individuals within the Venezuelan justice system. This case underscores ongoing concerns about human rights and the rule of law in Venezuela.