Release of political prisoners inches forward as Venezuela frees another 24

Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald on Jan 12, 2026

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At least 24 political prisoners were released in the early hours of Monday from Venezuelan prisons, according to the human rights group Foro Penal, in a process unfolding amid complaints about the slowness and lack of transparency surrounding the releases announced by the interim regime ruling the country since the capture of strongman Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

Those freed include nine women held at La Crisálida prison and 15 men detained at El Rodeo I, among them Italian citizen Alberto Trentini, as well as at least one other person of Italian nationality.

With Monday’s releases, the number of political prisoners who have been released has risen to at least 40. Human rights organizations estimate that the regime still holds more than 1,000 political prisoners.

The regime announced in a statement issued Monday morning that it had released a total of 116 people detained for “acts associated with altering the constitutional order and undermining the stability of the nation.” However, that figure has not been confirmed by independent observers.

Foro Penal Vice President Gonzalo Himiob said the releases add to others previously confirmed. “In addition to the 24 releases already verified — to which the 17 confirmed earlier must be added — we are currently confirming other releases that may also have taken place in the early hours of the morning,” he said.

Alfredo Romero, the group’s president, said the process remains under verification amid additional reports of releases involving both Venezuelans and foreigners.

However, the announcement has not dispelled the uncertainty or anguish among detainees’ families. Outside El Rodeo I prison, dozens of people have been waiting for days for concrete news.

Margareth Baduel, an activist with the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, said over the weekend that “in every prison there is a family waiting” for the announced releases to materialize. “It is physically and emotionally draining, but we continue to wait with the conviction that this will happen.”

Similar situations are unfolding at other detention centers. Near El Helicoide, the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service, a group of relatives said they had received information about possible transfers ahead of new releases, though without official confirmation.

Last Thursday, Jorge Rodríguez, president of the pro-government National Assembly, announced that a “significant number” of people — both Venezuelans and foreigners — would be released, without specifying figures or conditions. Nevertheless, human rights organizations and opposition groups say the releases are advancing at a markedly slow pace.

According to Foro Penal, more than 800 people remain detained in Venezuela for political reasons, most of them arrested after the 2024 post-election crisis, though other groups place the figure above a thousand.

Sources within the regime and the human rights community say the release process has been affected by internal tensions within the Chavista government, now led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez.