Families of ‘Citgo 6’ see release of one as hopeful sign for the rest

CNN — Gustavo Cárdenas’ years-long “nightmare” came to an end Tuesday night when he and another American citizen were freed from detention in Venezuela. The family members who spoke to CNN said they welcomed Cárdenas’ release, calling it a very promising sign, but some acknowledged it is also bittersweet as their loved ones remain behind bars. Tomeu’s wife, Dennysse Vadell, echoed her daughter’s sentiment but also said she’s “a little nervous,” because “this window opened – I’m afraid it would close at any time.” The release of Cárdenas and Jorge Alberto Fernandez, a Cuban-US dual citizen who had been detained in Venezuela since February 2021, came after a quiet trip to Caracas by a US government delegation, including National Security Council official Juan Gonzalez and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens. Alexandra Z. Forseth, the daughter of Alirio Jose Zambrano and niece of Jose Luis Zambrano, said Carstens told her family the men “were in really good spirits.” She said she had been told by family members who had met with Carstens that he sounded “really positive” that the other members of the group could be released relatively soon. A letter from Tomeu Vadell to his family Vadell family Cristina Vadell, another of Tomeu Vadell’s daughters, said that “it was very emotional because it was the first note that I get to really touch.” “You know, I always get like a screenshot or a snap of a picture of Dad’s letters, but never, you know, the physical letter.