Venezuela’s government announced Thursday it will release a "significant number" of domestic and foreign prisoners, a move described as a gesture to seek national peace following the dramatic capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly and brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, did not provide a specific count or a list of names. However, the announcement comes as the new administration under Delcy Rodríguez—who was sworn in Monday—attempts to navigate a country in deep political transition.
The human rights group Foro Penal reported that as of late December, Venezuela held roughly 860 people for political reasons. Rights advocates began verifying releases immediately following the televised announcement. "We already know of some people on their way to freedom, including foreigners," wrote Alfredo Romero, director of the group, on social media.
A Government in Transition The prisoner release follows a week of unprecedented upheaval. On January 3, U.S. special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas during "Operation Absolute Resolve." Maduro is currently in federal custody in New York facing narco-terrorism charges.
While the acting government in Caracas initially condemned the capture as an "aggression," it has since signaled a willingness to stabilize the country. Jorge Rodríguez characterized the releases as a "unilateral gesture" to promote "national unity and peaceful coexistence.
U.S. Asserts Control Over Oil As Caracas moves to release detainees, the Trump administration is tightening its grip on Venezuela’s primary economic engine: oil.
On Wednesday, U.S. forces seized two sanctioned tankers, including the Russian-flagged Marinera, following a weeks-long pursuit in the Atlantic. The White House has announced plans to oversee the sale of Venezuelan petroleum worldwide, asserting that the proceeds will be used to stabilize the country and "benefit the American people."
President Trump, who has pledged the U.S. will temporarily "run" the country during the transition, is moving forward with a "complete blockade" of unauthorized shipments to ensure Washington dictates the flow of Venezuelan crude.
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