Venezuela Frees Hundreds of Political Prisoners After U.S. Capture of Maduro, Still Holds Hundreds
Updated (3 articles)
Rapid Release Campaign After Acting President Assumes Power After U.S. agents seized President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, Vice‑president Delcy Rodríguez became acting president and announced a “significant number” of releases, citing more than 620 freed prisoners [1]. Foro Penal’s Alfredo Romero reported 266 political detainees released since the Jan. 8 pledge, with at least 100 freed in the two days preceding Jan. 27 [1]. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello later claimed 808 releases since December, a figure human‑rights groups say is inflated [1].
Human‑Rights Groups Dispute Government Release Numbers Foro Penal confirmed a minimum of 80 political prisoners freed on Jan. 25, contradicting Rodríguez’s claim of over 600 releases [2]. The organization continues to verify identities, naming activist Kennedy Tejeda among those freed, while noting many released individuals still face pending charges [2][1]. Cabello’s assertion that no detainees are “political prisoners” clashes with the NGO’s classification of hundreds as political detainees [1].
Large Portion of Opposition Remains Detained Despite the releases, at least 600 opposition figures—including members of the Vente Venezuela party led by María Corina Machado—remain incarcerated, according to Foro Penal [1]. Families have maintained vigils outside prisons demanding further freedom, while those recently released include a human‑rights lawyer and a journalism student still barred from public expression [1]. The continued detention underscores the limited scope of the government’s reconciliation gesture [2].
International Oversight Sought Amid Ongoing Pressure Rodríguez announced plans to request UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk verify the release lists, signaling a move toward external monitoring [2]. U.S. President Donald Trump praised the releases on Truth Social, framing them as a “powerful humanitarian gesture” while maintaining pressure on the acting government [1]. The combination of U.S. legal action against Maduro and UN involvement highlights the geopolitical stakes surrounding Venezuela’s prison reforms [2][1].
Sources
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1.
AP: Venezuela frees dozens of political prisoners amid U.S. pressure, hundreds still held: Details 266 releases since Jan. 8, government claims up to 808 freed, Trump’s praise, and ongoing vigils, emphasizing the disparity between official numbers and human‑rights reports .
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2.
BBC: Venezuela releases at least 80 political detainees amid U.S. pressure: Confirms a minimum of 80 verified releases, disputes the government’s >600 figure, notes many freed remain under legal restrictions, and highlights Rodríguez’s request for UN verification .
Timeline
July 2024 – After the July 2024 presidential election, post‑election protests trigger mass arrests, creating a large pool of political detainees that later draws international scrutiny [3].
Dec 26, 2025 – Venezuelan authorities free 99 prisoners in a mass release, marking the first of two large releases in two weeks and signaling a response to mounting pressure over post‑election detentions [3].
Jan 1, 2026 – The government releases an additional 88 detainees, bringing the two‑week total to 187; NGOs verify at least 55 of these, note most are from Tocorón prison, and estimate roughly 900 political prisoners remain [3].
Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. law‑enforcement agents seize President Nicolás Maduro in a raid and transport him to New York for a drug‑trafficking trial, intensifying external pressure on the Venezuelan regime [1].
Jan 8, 2026 – Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announces a pledge to free a “significant number” of political prisoners, setting a benchmark for subsequent releases [2].
Jan 25, 2026 – Foro Penal confirms at least 80 political detainees are freed, while interim president Rodríguez claims over 600 releases; many freed individuals retain pending charges that restrict their rights [1].
Jan 26, 2026 – Rodríguez says she will contact UN High Commissioner Volker Türk to request verification of the released‑prisoner lists, indicating a move toward external oversight [1].
Jan 27, 2026 – Foro Penal reports 266 political prisoners have been released since Jan 8, including over 100 in the past two days; former President Donald Trump praises the “powerful humanitarian gesture,” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello inflates the total to 808 releases since December, and families continue vigils demanding further freedom [2].
2025‑2026 (ongoing) – The Trump administration escalates diplomatic and military pressure on Venezuela, increasing U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels linked to drug trafficking, which underpins the recent wave of prisoner releases [3].