Venezuelan government starts releasing political detainees

Venezuelan Government Begins Releasing Political Prisoners

The Venezuelan government has started releasing detainees whom human rights organisations classify as political prisoners, describing the decision as a goodwill gesture. Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed the release of five Spanish nationals, including prominent Venezuelan-Spanish human rights activist Rocío San Miguel.

The move followed a dramatic US operation in which American forces arrested President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. The United States has long demanded the release of political prisoners in Venezuela, particularly during periods of political tension surrounding elections and protests.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, announced on state television that authorities would immediately free a “significant number” of prisoners, although he did not disclose their identities or exact figures. While Venezuelan prisons still hold hundreds of political detainees, officials have released only a limited number so far. Rodríguez said the interim government took this step to promote national unity and peaceful coexistence.

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Rights Groups Welcome Releases but Urge Caution

Authorities confirmed Rocío San Miguel as the first released prisoner. Her family told US media that officials escorted her to the Spanish embassy in Caracas. Security forces arrested her in 2024 on charges of treason, conspiracy, and terrorism, accusing her of plotting to assassinate the president. Her disappearance alarmed human rights activists and prompted the UN Human Rights Office to describe the case as a possible enforced disappearance.

Venezuelan human rights organisations welcomed the releases but warned that many detainees remain imprisoned. Attention has also focused on El Helicoide prison, where officials hold dozens of political prisoners. US President Donald Trump announced plans to close the prison, which human rights groups have accused of torture and abuse. However, organisations such as Provea warned that shutting one facility should not divert attention from other detention centres operating across the country.

Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado has continued to demand the release of political prisoners, including several of her close allies. Opposition groups argue that the government uses detentions to silence critics, especially since the disputed 2024 election. Venezuelan officials reject these claims and insist that authorities arrested detainees for legitimate criminal offences.

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