Venezuelan authorities, led by National Assembly President Jorge RodrÃguez, have announced and initiated the release of a number of detainees, including both Venezuelan citizens and foreign nationals. This action follows the apprehension of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces and is characterized by the Venezuelan government as a "gesture of peace" and a move towards "national unity." However, human rights organizations report a discrepancy between the government's stated figures for releases and independently verified numbers, with many individuals identified as political prisoners remaining incarcerated.
Announcement of Releases and Broader Context
Jorge RodrÃguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly, announced the imminent release of a "significant number" of Venezuelan and foreign detainees, stating that the release processes were underway. RodrÃguez described the action as a "gesture of peace" and a "unilateral gesture to reaffirm our unbreakable decision to consolidate peace in the republic and peaceful coexistence among all," initiated by the Bolivarian government and state institutions. He also cited "national unity and peaceful coexistence" as motivations for these actions.
This announcement occurred approximately five days after the apprehension of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in Caracas on January 3. Maduro was subsequently transferred to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in New York. Acting President Delcy RodrÃguez condemned the U.S. military action, stating her responsibility to govern during Maduro's "kidnapping."
Discrepancy in Numbers and Definitions of Detainees
The Venezuelan government maintains it does not hold political prisoners, asserting that those detained are accused of plotting to destabilize the government. Conversely, human rights organizations within Venezuela report different estimates for the number of political prisoners.
- Human Rights Organization Estimates: Foro Penal, an advocacy group, reported figures ranging from 806 to over 863 political prisoners at various points, including 175 military personnel. Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP) estimated 1,017 political prisoners before the government's announcement. The UN's Venezuela Fact-Finding Mission estimated approximately 800 political prisoners.
- Reported Releases: While Jorge RodrÃguez did not initially specify the exact number of individuals, the Venezuelan government later claimed over 100 or 116 detainees had been released, without always specifying how many were classified as political prisoners. Human rights organizations provided lower confirmed figures: JEP confirmed 8 to 10 releases, Foro Penal confirmed five releases initially, then fewer than 20 as of a Saturday report, and approximately 72 freed by a later update. As of a Monday morning report, Foro Penal stated 41 out of more than 800 political prisoners had been freed, while campaigners confirmed around 40 releases. The UN reported approximately 50 prisoners released to date.
Confirmed Releases and Prominent Detainees Still Held
Among those confirmed released were:
- Enrique Márquez, a former opposition candidate.
- Biagio Pilieri, an opposition member.
- Five Spanish nationals, including one with dual nationality. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed these releases. The dual national was identified as RocÃo San Miguel, a lawyer, activist, and human rights defender. She had been detained in February 2024 and accused by the Venezuelan government of treason, conspiracy, and terrorism related to an alleged plot against President Maduro. Her relative stated her release was a "precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty" rather than full freedom. Other identified Spanish nationals were Andrés MartÃnez, José MarÃa Basoa (both arrested in 2024 on allegations of plotting to destabilize the government), Ernesto Gorbe (allegedly overstaying his visa), and Miguel Moreno.
- Diógenes Angulo, released on January 10, 2026, after 17 months of detention. He had been detained two days before the 2024 presidential election for posting a video of an opposition demonstration.
- A U.S. State Department official confirmed Venezuela had begun releasing American citizens, describing it as "an important step in the right direction."
Prominent opposition figures reported to remain imprisoned include former lawmaker Freddy Superlano and former governor Juan Pablo Guanipa. Juan Pablo Guanipa had been detained in May 2025 after being accused of terrorism and treason for challenging the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Families continue to seek information and the release of their relatives, including Zaida Martinez's son, Angela Crespo's husband, Maria Marquez's son, and Jenny Quiroz's partner, all held on various politically-linked charges. James Luckey-Lange, a U.S. citizen, was identified as being held at military counterintelligence headquarters in Caracas.
International and Domestic Reactions
Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares characterized the confirmation of Spanish citizens' release as a "very positive step" and "a positive step in the new phase Venezuela is entering."
U.S. President Donald Trump commented that Venezuelan authorities were "closing up" a "torture chamber in the middle of Caracas." He stated that the releases occurred at the request of the United States and claimed credit for them. Trump also indicated his contentment with RodrÃguez governing, provided Venezuela allowed the U.S. access to its oil resources. A U.S. administration mission arrived in Venezuela, and both countries announced they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations and the reopening of diplomatic missions. The U.S. had consistently called for the release of opposition figures and critics.
Opposition leader MarÃa Corina Machado characterized the releases as an "act of moral restitution" and stated they demonstrated that "injustice would not last forever." Ramón Guanipa, son of jailed opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, urged President Trump to "keep pressure on these guys" and "not be fooled," citing the low number of releases compared to the total political prisoners.
Human rights activists, including Alfredo Romero, head of Foro Penal, expressed cautious optimism but called for "the freedom of all political prisoners, not partial and conditional gestures," referencing past instances of conditional liberty involving travel bans and mandatory court appearances. Activists are approaching the announcement with caution, citing past instances where releases were announced but only a portion independently verified. Martha Tineo, general coordinator of JEP, expressed optimism for more releases, noting that legal procedures could extend the process over several days. Journalist Luis Carlos DÃaz suggested that the current government retains hardline figures from the previous administration who may have little interest in national reconciliation.
Detention Conditions and Human Rights Concerns
Attention has focused on El Helicoide de la Roca Tarpeya in Caracas, a facility that originally opened as a shopping center in 1956 and was later used as a detention site, gaining international notoriety for detaining alleged political opponents. Martha Tineo confirmed that some administrative sections of El Helicoide, associated with the Bolivarian National Police, were being vacated, but clarified these were not the areas primarily used for political detainees.
The UN's Venezuela Fact-Finding Mission has documented patterns of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions by hooded individuals without warrants, extractions from homes into unmarked vehicles, and instances of torture such as beatings, suffocation, and electric shocks, reportedly used to extract information. The UN has reiterated its long-standing concerns regarding Venezuela's "widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention as a tool of repression."
Alfredo Romero reported concerns regarding the slow pace of releases and mistreatment of detainees, citing the death of Edilson Torres, a 52-year-old police officer detained for criticizing the government. Romero affirmed that many political prisoners experience torture or cruel treatment. In 2021, the International Criminal Court commenced an investigation into the Venezuelan government for alleged crimes against humanity. Rights activists advocate for an amnesty law, as former prisoners still face existing legal charges and restrictions from engaging with the media. Foro Penal's director warned that without dismantling the existing "repression machinery," new arrests of dissidents could continue.