Venezuela frees at least 80 people labeled political prisoners, rights group says
A Venezuelan rights organization reported that at least 80 people it considers political prisoners were released on Sunday as part of a continuing process. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has said hundreds have been freed, while the rights group has tracked a smaller number and called for outside verification of the release lists.
New releases reported across the country
At least 80 detainees classified as political prisoners by Venezuela’s Foro Penal were released Sunday from prisons in different parts of the country, according to the group’s director Alfredo Romero. He said additional releases were expected as the process continues.
The releases drew fresh attention to the gap between official claims and independent tracking. Foro Penal has worked for years to document politically linked detentions and to verify when prisoners are moved, freed, or re-detained.
Government says hundreds freed; verification requested
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that 626 people have been released, though she did not specify the timeframe for those reported releases. Romero’s organization said that, before Sunday, it had confirmed the release of 156 political prisoners since January 8, suggesting that its verified count remained well below the government’s figure.
Rodriguez also said she expected to speak on Monday with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to request that the U.N. verify the lists of those released so far, a move that could increase confidence in the accounting and help families seeking confirmation.
What happens next
Foro Penal’s leadership indicated that the release process is ongoing and that more names may be added as prison authorities process paperwork and transfer decisions. Families and civil society groups have urged that any releases be transparent and comprehensive, with clear documentation for each detainee.
Observers say outside verification will be a key test: without independent confirmation, disputes over who has been freed—and who remains jailed—are likely to persist, fueling political tension and uncertainty for relatives waiting for news.