Venezuelan Government Releases Political Prisoners Amid Ongoing Tensions

Fri Jan 09 2026 22:55:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant move, the Venezuelan government has initiated the release of political prisoners, marking a crucial step in the country's fraught political landscape. This announcement follows a series of international pressures and internal unrest.

The Venezuelan government is releasing political prisoners as a gesture of goodwill, with five detainees confirmed to be released, including rights activist Rocío San Miguel. This development comes after increasing international pressure, notably from the US. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to ease tensions within the country and signal a willingness to engage politically, amidst ongoing debates about human rights and political repression in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan government has begun releasing detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups, in what officials described as a goodwill gesture.

Spain's foreign ministry stated that five of its nationals, including one dual national, have been released. Among them is rights activist Rocío San Miguel.

This move follows a dramatic raid in Caracas, where US authorities seized Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking charges in New York.

The release of political prisoners in Venezuela has long been a US demand, particularly during heightened repression around elections or protests.

Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela's National Assembly, announced on state television that a significant number of political prisoners would be released, although no specific details were given on the number or identity of those freed.

Hundreds of political prisoners are believed to remain in Venezuelan prisons, with only a handful confirmed to be released thus far.

San Miguel, who was an outspoken critic of the Maduro regime, was arrested earlier this year at Maiquetia airport and accused of plotting against the government.

Human rights organizations, which often face scrutiny and intimidation in Venezuela, welcomed the news of these releases but did so with caution, stressing that the situation for many detainees remains dire.

Amidst increasing international scrutiny and potential shifts in diplomatic relations, the future of political imprisonment in Venezuela remains uncertain.