Venezuela Interim Government Releases 131 Political Prisoners Amid US-Brokered Talks
The announcement of the releases coincides with concluded negotiations focused on judicial reform and disaster recovery funding, though opposition figures insist the measure is insufficient without the unconditional release of all remaining detainees.
Venezuela’s interim government has announced the release of 131 individuals classified as political prisoners, marking a significant development in the nation’s post-Maduro transition. The detainees were granted “alternative measures from incarceration” under the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, according to a statement issued by the administration on Friday.
The move follows the United States’ removal and detention of former President Nicolas Maduro on 3 January 2026. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release of more than 130 prisoners as a “crucial step for the nation’s reconciliation process”. Rubio noted on X that since the US intervention, a total of 1,046 Venezuelans have been released from detention.
Verification of the releases has been partial. Opposition movement Vente Venezuela independently confirmed the freedom of 43 detainees, while the rights group Foro Penal reported that “at least 40” prisoners had been freed. Foro Penal further detailed that 17 women were released on Friday, including one accused of participating in an assassination plot against Maduro. Emotional reunions were observed outside El Rodeo I prison in Guatire, where former prisoners reconnected with their families.
Despite the announcement, significant numbers of detainees remain in custody. As of 10 August, Foro Penal reported that 391 political prisoners were still incarcerated. Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa welcomed the releases as a relief for families but demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners. Guanipa stated that releasing some prisoners was not enough and called for Venezuela to “close forever the door of torture centres”.
The releases occurred alongside the conclusion of US-brokered reconciliation talks between the government and opposition. Led by Dinorah Figuera and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, the negotiations focused on retrieving frozen overseas funds for earthquake recovery and reforming the judiciary. A joint statement issued after the talks did not explicitly address the issue of political prisoners. Venezuela is currently governed by interim President Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, with significant influence from Washington.
