Media Center

Press Release


OAS General Secretariat Welcomes Release of People Held in Venezuela

  October 2, 2022

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) welcomes the release of seven U.S. citizens who were arbitrarily detained in Venezuela for years.

Hostage taking is one of the most heinous and reprehensible crimes. It violates the most fundamental rights of the hostages and their families. After years of this tremendous injustice that these seven men suffered, today we can welcome the fact that they are finally free. In this sense, we also salute the United States Government for its success in the process of their release.

We send a special greeting to Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell, Alirio Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano, Jose Pereira, Matthew Heath and Osman Khan and their families.

Reference: E-057/22