Image Credentials: Image Title: Venezuela Begins Releasing Political Prisoners in Early Sign of Political Shift Source: (sora.openai) Date: January 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (sora.openai) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies | January 9, 2026
CARACAS — Venezuela’s interim authorities have started releasing political prisoners, a move announced Thursday that comes amid sweeping political changes in the country, less than a week after the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, who is the brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, said the government has begun freeing a “significant number” of individuals held on political grounds, including both Venezuelan nationals and foreigners. He described the releases as part of an effort to promote peace and “peaceful coexistence” after years of political strife.
Among the released figures are prominent opposition leaders and human rights advocates. Former National Assembly vice president Enrique Márquez and former deputy Biagio Pilieri were shown reuniting with relatives in video posts shared online, where supporters celebrated their freedom. Venezuelan-Spanish lawyer and activist Rocío San Miguel, who had been detained since February 2024, was also reported freed and was preparing to travel to Spain with other Spanish nationals, according to Spain’s foreign ministry.
Spain confirmed that five Spanish citizens, including San Miguel, have been released and are expected to return home, calling the development a “positive step” and extending congratulations to the freed prisoners and their families.
Human rights organizations and watchdog groups have cautiously welcomed the move but emphasized that a large number of political prisoners remain in custody. Venezuelan NGO Foro Penal estimates that over 800 individuals were detained for political reasons as of early January, making Venezuela one of the countries with the highest counts of political prisoners in the Western Hemisphere.
While the government has characterized the releases as a gesture toward peace, rights advocates note that many detainees have faced accusations ranging from anti-government protests to vague charges of destabilization. Previous reports from Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented prolonged detentions, limited legal access, and incommunicado conditions for many political prisoners before this development.
The prisoner releases follow intense international pressure and political upheaval triggered when Maduro was seized by U.S. forces and brought to the United States on narcoterrorism charges. The Trump administration has signaled a long-term role in efforts to stabilize Venezuela, including energy collaboration and broader diplomatic engagement, even as some critics raise concerns about sovereignty and legality.
Despite the initial wave of releases, it remains unclear how many prisoners will be freed in total or whether the process reflects a long-term change in Venezuela’s approach to political detention. Opposition figures and civil society leaders have urged continued action to secure the unconditional release of all political detainees and to ensure accountability for past abuses.