World Feb 19 Venezuela approves amnesty bill, paving way for release of hundreds of political detainees By Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press
World Dec 13 Belarus frees prominent political prisoners as U.S. lifts sanctions on country's potash exports Belarusian authorities on Saturday freed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, key opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova and other prominent political prisoners, a human rights group confirmed. By Yuras Karmanau, Associated Press
World Apr 17 Myanmar frees nearly 4,900 prisoners, including at least 22 political detainees The head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to nearly 4,900 prisoners to mark the country's traditional new year, state-run media reported Thursday, and an independent watchdog said they included at least 22 political detainees. By Associated Press
World Sep 05 U.S. says it has secured the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners The U.S. government announced Thursday that it secured the release of 135 Nicaraguan political prisoners, who have arrived in Guatemala where they will apply for entry to the United States or other countries. By Sonia Pérez D., Associated Press
World Dec 27 Watch 6:53 Envoy for hostage affairs describes efforts to free Americans detained abroad While the United States was able to negotiate the release of detained Americans in Venezuela, there are at least four Americans in Russia and approximately seven held in Gaza. The U.S. government's point person working to get them all home… By Amna Nawaz, Dan Sagalyn, Zeba Warsi
Sep 07 Watch 8:24 Tunisia's president tightens grip on power by jailing rivals while economy falters By Malcolm Brabant, Dan Sagalyn Democracy in Tunisia is under pressure. The North African country was long considered a trailblazer for democracy in the Arab world, but now its president has launched an authoritarian crackdown that has jailed political rivals, wrecked the economy and caused… Continue watching
Aug 15 Watch 7:28 Daughters of American held in Iran discuss his 5-year confinement and move to house arrest By Amna Nawaz, Zeba Warsi For years, Iran has used American dual-nationals as hostage bargaining chips with the West. Last week the Biden administration struck a deal to relocate five American Iranians from prison to house arrest. It is hoped they'll come home to the… Continue watching
Aug 10 Watch 7:31 Family of Afghan American held by Taliban pleads for release: 'He's done nothing wrong' By Amna Nawaz, Teresa Cebrian Aranda An Afghan American businessman has been held for more than a year in the land of his birth. Mahmood Habibi's family has decided to go public in the hopes that the Taliban will release him. Amna Nawaz spoke with them… Continue watching
Feb 22 Watch 9:24 Freed political prisoner discusses Nicaragua's slide toward authoritarianism By Geoff Bennett, Teresa Cebrian Aranda Earlier this month, Nicaragua exiled hundreds of its citizens, many of whom were political prisoners, to the United States. Their release marks a turning point for a government that has become increasingly authoritarian. Felix Maradiaga, a former Nicaraguan presidential candidate,… Continue watching
Dec 28 Watch 10:18 How Russia is trying to control history in bid for geo-political strength By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn Memorial Human Rights Center, the leading human rights organization that was closed in Russia, documented today’s Russian political prisoners, as well as past Soviet human rights atrocities. As Nick Schifrin reports, the banning of Memorial comes almost exactly 30 years… Continue watching