The President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, announced that more than 400 people have been released from prisons across the country, a claim that has been contested by human rights organizations reporting much lower figures.
Rodríguez stated that the releases are part of a peace gesture following recent political upheaval, including the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this month. He noted that those freed were not political prisoners but individuals who, according to the government, had violated the law or constitution.
However, several rights groups and independent monitors have disputed the official numbers, estimating that only 60 to 70 individuals have actually been released in recent days. Some reports from the country’s penitentiary system cited around 116 releases, though many of those freed have not been publicly identified, making verification difficult.
Advocacy organizations such as Foro Penal say that approximately 800 to 1,200 political prisoners remain detained in Venezuela, and they continue to criticise the lack of transparency and slow pace of the release process. Families of detainees have reported a significant increase in inquiries about relatives they believe are held for political reasons, viewing the recent developments with both hope and caution.
The releases also include several U.S. citizens, which was welcomed by the U.S. State Department, though exact numbers and identities have not been fully disclosed.
