Washington’s operation to capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Floresand taking them to New York to try them for drug trafficking has placed her at the head of the country. And this Thursday, just three days after taking office, his brother, Jorge Rodríguez, announced the release of a “significant number” of political prisoners.
The White House has assured in the early hours of Thursday to Friday in Spain that the release of political prisoners in Venezuela is an “example of how “The president (Trump) is using maximum influence to do what is right for the American and Venezuelan people.”as he told Efe Anna Kelly, spokesperson for international affairs of the Executive.
The announcement of the releases also occurred after Trump made public on Tuesday the alleged closure of a “torture chamber” in Caracas, amid the pressure he exerts on the Rodríguez Government.
A gesture “for peace”
Meanwhile, from Caracas, where they did not want to specify the exact number of people released, they have described the measure as a “unilateral gesture” by the Venezuelan authorities to “consolidate peace and peaceful coexistence” in the country after the US operation that captured Maduro on January 3.
The Attorney General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saabsaid this Thursday that the announcement of the release of political prisoners in the country reveals the “will” of the Venezuelan State, headed by the president in charge, Delcy Rodríguez, to seek a “climate of peace” and “peaceful coexistence.”
“Today, with the due action of the Public Ministry as guarantor and holder of the criminal action, with the Venezuelan justice system, the release of citizens previously detained by the Venezuelan justice system was carried out,” Saab said in an event organized by his office and broadcast on the private channel. Globovision.
The official did not specify the number of those released, but insisted that the releases are “being carried out in real time today, Thursday.”
However, Several NGOs and relatives of political prisoners assure that no release has yet been finalized. of these detainees.
They demand “massive” releases
Relatives and teams of lawyers are outside detention centers such as Helicoide, headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) in Caracas, and Rodeo I, located in the neighboring state of Miranda (north), awaiting release.
And they demand that these releases be “massive” because, they argue, “All” of these detainees have health conditionsboth physical and mental, that must be attended to.
“Asking God that it really be a massive and complete liberation (…) and the ideal is that it is not reduced to just one group, but that the prisons are opened for everyone,” he told Efe Margareth Baduel, activist of the NGO Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, from the outskirts of the Rodeo I prison, 51 kilometers from Caracas.
Baduel indicated that, so far, they have not received information from the custodians of that detention center about possible releases of political prisoners.
For her part, Yovanka Ávila told the same agency that they do not have a list of names of the people who will receive the measure.
“The family member never stops waiting for this moment, one never loses faith, we don’t lose hope“They are in our prayers every day,” he added.
Five Spaniards released
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albaresconfirmed the identities of five Spaniards who were released this Thursday in Venezuela, among whom are José María Basoa, Andrés Martínez Adasme, Miguel Moreno Dapena, Ernesto Gorbe Cardona and the Spanish-Venezuelan Rocío San Miguel.
Albares has been able to speak with all of them and tonight they left Caracas for Spain, assisted by our embassy.
The 5 compatriots released today in Venezuela are now flying to Spain. Soon they will be home with their loved ones.
I have spoken with them to convey my joy for their release.
I thank @EmbEspVenezuela and all those who have contributed to making it possible.
— José Manuel Albares (@jmalbares) January 8, 2026
As the minister wrote in X: “They will soon be home with their loved ones.”
According to the latest bulletin from the NGO Foro Penal, in Venezuela there are 863 political prisonersamong them 86 foreigners or with dual nationality, although the position of the Venezuelan Government is that they are imprisoned for the “commission of terrible punishable acts.”