Venezuela announces release of an 'important number' of detainees

Five days after the US seized Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela announced it is releasing an “important number” of detainees, the congressional president said, calling the move a gesture to “consolidate peace”. It is unclear how many people are being freed. Human rights organisations estimate Venezuela holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners, most detained for taking part in protests after the 2024 election, which is widely believed to have been stolen by Maduro.

Jorge Rodríguez, the congressional president and brother of acting president Delcy Rodríguez, described the measure as a “unilateral gesture to reaffirm our unbreakable decision to consolidate peace in the republic and peaceful coexistence among all”. Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed the release of five Spanish nationals, including one dual national whom the foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said was Rocío San Miguel, a Spanish‑Venezuelan lawyer and human rights defender detained in February 2024 and accused by the regime of treason, conspiracy and terrorism.

Spain said the detainees were “preparing to travel to Spain with assistance from our embassy in Caracas”. The announcement has been treated with caution. In the days before a US operation, the regime said it would release 187 people but organisations verified only part of that total.

Key Topics

World, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, Jorge Rodríguez, Delcy Rodríguez, Rocío San Miguel