The Venezuelan government has declared it will release an "important number" of detained individuals, both Venezuelan and foreign, in what it describes as a unilateral move to consolidate peace.
Announcement Follows US Operation
The announcement was made in Caracas on Thursday by congressional president Jorge Rodríguez, the brother of acting president Delcy Rodríguez. It comes just five days after a significant US operation targeting the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez framed the decision as a "unilateral gesture to reaffirm our unbreakable decision to consolidate peace in the republic and peaceful coexistence among all."
However, the exact number of people to be freed remains unclear. Independent human rights organisations estimate that Venezuela currently holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners. The majority were reportedly detained for participating in protests following the widely disputed 2024 presidential election.
International Prisoners Among Those Freed
Spain's foreign ministry has confirmed the release of five Spanish nationals, one of whom holds dual citizenship. The individuals are preparing to travel to Spain with embassy assistance. The ministry stated, "Spain, which maintains fraternal relations with the Venezuelan people, views this decision as a positive step in the new phase Venezuela is entering."
Foreign minister José Manuel Albares identified the dual national as Rocío San Miguel, a prominent Spanish-Venezuelan lawyer and human rights defender. She was arrested in February 2024 and accused by the Maduro regime of treason, conspiracy, and terrorism in relation to an alleged plot to assassinate the president.
Prior to this announcement, estimates suggested over 40 foreign nationals were detained in Venezuela, including approximately 20 Spaniards and five US citizens. Among the Americans is 28-year-old James Luckey-Lange, who disappeared in December and was reportedly held at a military counterintelligence headquarters in Caracas.
Cautious Reaction from Human Rights Groups
The news has been met with caution by non-governmental organisations monitoring the situation. They point to a previous pledge by the regime to release 187 people over the Christmas and New Year period, where independent verification could only confirm a portion of those releases.
Alfredo Romero, head of the NGO Foro Penal, which estimates 806 political prisoners remain, posted a video expressing "high expectations for the release of all political prisoners." He urged that this must signal "a real transformation" and not a superficial gesture where some are freed only for others to be jailed.
Another group, Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón, welcomed the announcement but stressed the need for releases to be "effective, immediate and verifiable." They emphasised that freedom is a fundamental right, not a concession from those in power. The organisation also demanded that any release must be "full, immediate and without conditions," criticising the recent trend of granting only conditional liberty with travel bans and other restrictions.
The Comité por la Libertad de los Presos Políticos noted a continued lack of transparency, stating, "Opacity and discretion continue to prevail in the handling of these releases, increasing the anxiety, anguish and uncertainty of families and political prisoners."
At the press conference, Jorge Rodríguez indicated that details of those being freed would emerge shortly, framing the action as the Bolivarian government's contribution to national unity and prosperity.
