Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced that 39 political prisoners were released from Venezuelan prisons between Friday and Saturday after a second round of talks backed by Washington. The releases included eight women accused of “narco‑terrorism” in 2021 and six individuals accused of collaborating with the United States in a 2020 attempt to overthrow former President Nicolás Maduro.
Human rights group Justicia, Encuentro y Perdon (JEP) said the freed prisoners came from a range of facilities, and urged continued vigilance for those still detained. “We will remain vigilant and continue to demand full freedom for all those who are still waiting,” JEP said in a statement on X.
The negotiations, held with U.S. approval since the military removal of Maduro in January, followed an earlier round in August that focused on recovering frozen Venezuelan funds and judicial reform. Rodríguez had enacted an amnesty law in February under U.S. pressure, but releases had been gradual.
Foro Penal reports that 344 people remained classified as political prisoners as of September 18, down from 391 on August 10, when the government claimed it had freed 131 people under an “alternative measures” programme. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously noted that more than 1,000 Venezuelans had been released since Maduro’s removal, calling it a “crucial step” for reconciliation.
Families of prisoners have continued to protest outside the U.S. embassy in Caracas and the El Rodeo I prison, which rights groups label a torture centre. The latest releases are seen as a modest but significant move toward easing political tensions in the country.
Observers will watch whether the interim administration maintains the pace of releases and addresses the remaining 344 detainees. Further negotiations are expected as the government seeks to broaden its amnesty program.
