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Joshua Holt case: Venezuela confirms release of US prisoner Joshua Holt case: US citizen jailed in Venezuela on way home
(about 3 hours later)
A US citizen imprisoned in Venezuela has been released after spending two years in jail on charges of concealing weapons, Venezuelan authorities say. A US citizen imprisoned in Venezuela has been freed after two years in jail on charges of concealing weapons.
Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan partner Thamy are returning to the US on the orders of President Nicolás Maduro, a Venezuelan government minister said. Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan partner Thamy Candelo were on their way home to the US on Saturday, accompanied by US Senator Bob Corker, who helped negotiate their release.
US President Donald Trump earlier tweeted that he was "looking forward" to seeing Mr Holt at the White House. Mr Corker met Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for talks on Friday.
US Senator Bob Corker met Mr Maduro for talks in Caracas on Friday. US President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that he was "looking forward" to seeing Mr Holt at the White House.
A spokesman for Mr Maduro said the couple's release was a "gesture" aimed at improving dialogue between Caracas and Washington. The couple were detained in 2016 at her family's house in the capital Caracas while waiting for US visas, and accused of hiding weapons. Both were jailed for two years.
Mr Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term last week but Washington has not recognised the outcome. Mr Corker shared a picture of him with the Holts after Mr Holt's release, adding: "We are on our way home."
Venezuela had not discussed the nature of the talks with Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but said they were "good news for the Venezuelan people". He said in a statement that they would land in Washington DC on Saturday evening, where they would visit the president.
The US has previously accused Venezuela of using Mr Holt as a bargaining chip towards changing Washington's sanctions policy on the country. A spokesman for Mr Maduro said the couple's release was a "gesture" aimed at improving dialogue between Venezuela and the US.
Mr Trump said he expected the freed man and his family to be at the White House by 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT). Mr Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term last week, but Washington has refused to recognise the outcome. The election was marred by an opposition boycott and allegations of vote-rigging.
The president said the people of Utah would be "very happy". The US had previously accused Venezuela of using Mr Holt as a bargaining chip towards changing Washington's sanctions policy on the country.
Venezuela has not discussed the nature of the talks with Mr Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but said they were "good news for the Venezuelan people".
Mr Holt is a former Mormon missionary from Utah who had travelled to Caracas in June 2016 to marry his Venezuelan girlfriend, Thamy Candelo.Mr Holt is a former Mormon missionary from Utah who had travelled to Caracas in June 2016 to marry his Venezuelan girlfriend, Thamy Candelo.
She is also a Mormon and the couple intended that Ms Candelo and her children would move with Mr Holt to the US following the marriage. She is also a Mormon and the couple intended that Ms Candelo and her children would move with Mr Holt to the US following the marriage, but they were arrested instead.
While waiting for their US visas, Mr Holt and his wife were detained in her family's house in Caracas and accused of hiding weapons.
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who said he had worked with two presidential administrations and various contacts, including President Maduro, on the release, said that he "could not be more honoured to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family".Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who said he had worked with two presidential administrations and various contacts, including President Maduro, on the release, said that he "could not be more honoured to be able to reunite Josh with his sweet, long-suffering family".
Mr Maduro has frequently accused the US of trying to overthrow him and the US has tightened sanctions recently. Mr Maduro has frequently accused the US of trying to overthrow him and the US has tightened sanctions recently. Only on Tuesday, he expelled the senior US representative in the country, Todd Robinson.
Only on Tuesday he expelled the senior US representative in the country, Todd Robinson. Venezuela is five years into an economic crisis, suffering from hyperinflation and severe shortages in food and medicine.
Venezuela is in a five-year economic crisis, suffering from hyperinflation and severe shortages in food and medicine.
Turnout was low in last Sunday's election, boycotted by much of the opposition. Mr Maduro was credited with winning 68% of the vote.Turnout was low in last Sunday's election, boycotted by much of the opposition. Mr Maduro was credited with winning 68% of the vote.