The free speech advocate was one of several activists detained before President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in last week.

Venezuelan authorities have released a prominent detained human rights advocate, just days after President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a third term amid a crackdown on dissident voices and opposition leaders.

Carlos Correa, director of the Venezuelan nonprofit Espacio Publico, was released early Thursday morning, the group said in a social media post.

Correa, a respected Venezuelan university professor and free speech authority, was one of several opposition figures and civil society activists arrested ahead of Maduro's inauguration on Friday.

Human rights group Amnesty International said last week that "hooded men" arbitrarily detained Correa on January 7 in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.

In a statement issued the next day, the group called for the release of Correa and other detained Venezuelan human rights defenders, while accusing Maduro's government of pursuing "politically motivated" detentions.

"We ask Nicolas Maduro to ensure their immediate and unconditional release and to protect their life and safety in state custody, their right not to be subjected to torture and guarantees of a fair trial," Amnesty International said.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk also urged Correa's release.

We demand the freedom of Carlos Correa and all human rights defenders in Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/RMsueuMUzT

— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) January 15, 2025

Maduro was sworn in for a third term on January 10, months after Venezuela's electoral authorities said he won a disputed July vote.

But the country's opposition insists that presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez defeated Maduro.

Opposition leaders accuse the government - which has failed to release detailed votes - of stealing the results to benefit Maduro.

But the longtime president, who came to power after the death of Venezuela's leftist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013, struck a defiant tone.

Maduro said at the swearing-in ceremony: "May the new presidential term be a period of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy" and promised to abide by the country's laws.

"I swear on history, on my life, that I will complete (my mission)."

The inauguration comes a day after another opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, made a rare public appearance to lead protests against Maduro's continued rule before being briefly detained.

#venezuela: United Nations Human Rights Chief @volker_turk Deeply concerned about further reports of arbitrary detention and intimidation, including of human rights defender Carlos Correa and members of the opposition and their relatives.

Now is the time to work to ease tensions and reduce the risk of... pic.twitter.com/Zc1MPoQcNK

— United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) January 9, 2025

According to the Espacio Publico organization led by Correa, more than 400 newspapers, radio stations and television channels have been closed in Venezuela over the past 20 years, with repression that began under Chavez and intensified under Maduro.

On Wednesday, Correa's wife said her husband had been taken to an anti-terrorism court last week but she did not know the charges against him or where he was being held.

Human rights and press freedom groups including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed the news of Correa's release.

"The director of Espacio Publico should not be detained for a day," Reporters Without Borders said in a post on social media platform X.