Venezuela’s government announces the release of many prisoners

According to the human rights organization Foro Penal, there are around 800 political prisoners in the South American country. Many were at the protests against the re-election of the authoritarian head of state, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud Nicolas Maduro Arrested in 2024. International organizations and activists accuse the Venezuelan security forces of serious human rights violations.

“We know that some people are already on their way to freedom, including foreigners,” wrote Foro Penal leader Alfredo Romero on X. “We will review any release.”

Venezuela: Dozens of political prisoners already released

The Venezuelan government had already released dozens of political prisoners over Christmas and New Year. At the time, the prison administration said this was a contribution to peace, dialogue and justice.

Last weekend, US soldiers arrested Maduro and brought him to the United States. He is to be tried there for drug offenses. His successor Rodríguez is considered a loyal supporter of Maduro and has condemned the capture as aggression that violates international law.

Nobel Peace Prize winner called for prisoners to be released

The Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had recently emphasized in an interview the need for the release of political prisoners as an essential point in order to achieve change in the country. “There can be no transition with political prisoners,” she said.

The new government under Delcy Rodríguez viewed it as “absolutely temporary”. “The goal is for this process to be as short as possible, absolutely as short and quick as possible,” she said.