A Frenchโข yoga teacher imprisoned in Venezuela โฃforโข over a year has been released, herโค family announced November 16, 2024.Iryna Mestre Alvarez,โข 32, wasโฃ detained inโค Juneโ 2023 and accused of terrorism-related offenses, allegations widely dismissed by โFrench authorities and โคhuman rights groups.
Theโ release follows months of โdiplomatic pressure from France and international advocacy for mestre Alvarez’s freedom. Herโ case became a โfocal point in โstrained relations between Paris and Caracas,โข highlighting concerns over dueโฃ process andโ politicalโ detentions in venezuela. Mestreโ Alvarez is expected to return to Franceโ with assistance from French โขconsular officials, though details of her travel โฃarrangements remain closely held.
Mestre Alvarez’s father, Jean-Pierre โขMestre, confirmed the news, stating his daughter was “doing well”โ and โexpressed relief at her impending return. “We have been waiting for this moment for soโข long,” โฃhe said,โ according โขto reportsโ from Leโ Figaro.
The yoga instructorโค was initially arrested alongside her โคVenezuelan partner, Lorent Saleh, who remains โคdetained. Saleh, a Colombian-Venezuelanโ businessman, faces similar charges. Frenchโ officials have consistently maintained thatโ both individuals were victims of aโ politically motivated โprosecution.
Venezuela has beenโ under increasedโ international scrutiny regarding its human โrights โคrecord, with numerous reports โdetailing arbitrary arrestsโ and detentions of โฃpolitical opponents โand foreign nationals. The release of Mestre Alvarez โฃis seen as a potential, albeit limited, sign of easingโฃ tensions and a possible step towards addressing concerns over the rule of lawโ in the South American nation.
