In a significant development that has captured global attention, Venezuela has released five political prisoners — including prominent activists and dual nationals — in what authorities are calling a peace-focused gesture, even as wider political tensions continue to roil the crisis-torn nation.
The announcement came late Thursday, when Jorge Rodríguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and brother of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that the government had freed “a significant number” of detainees as part of a unilateral effort to bolster national unity and social peace.
Among those released were five Spanish citizens, including Rocío San Miguel, a Venezuelan-Spanish human rights lawyer and high-profile activist who had been incarcerated since February 2024 on charges widely condemned by international rights groups. Also freed were Andrés Martínez, José María Basoa, Ernesto Gorbe and Miguel Moreno, all of whom Spain confirmed would be assisted in returning home.
The government has presented the move as part of a broader political reset following extraordinary events this month, including the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, which has intensified pressure on Caracas from abroad. Rodríguez framed the releases as a contribution to “peace and peaceful coexistence,” emphasizing that the decision was made independently by the Venezuelan executive and aimed at stabilizing a polarized society.
“We are carrying out these releases as part of our unwavering decision to ensure that our republic continues its peaceful life and its pursuit of prosperity,” Rodríguez said in a statement, urging citizens to regard the action as a step toward reconciliation.
Mixed Reactions from Human Rights Groups
Human rights organisations cautiously welcomed the development, while also urging sustained action. Foro Penal, a Venezuelan NGO that monitors political detentions, estimates that the country still holds around 820 political prisoners — the highest figure in the Western Hemisphere. Many were arrested following the disputed 2024 presidential election, amid protests that challenged Maduro’s contested victory, and held on charges such as terrorism, conspiracy or incitement.
Rights advocates emphasised that releasing only a portion of the detained does not resolve systemic issues, arguing for broader amnesty and greater transparency. “This may be a positive step, but it must not be seen as the end of repression,” said one legal expert familiar with the situation. Repression, critics say, has been used for years to silence dissent and weaken political opposition under successive administrations.
Families and supporters of political prisoners gathered anxiously outside detention centres across Venezuela as news of the releases spread. Many expressed relief that loved ones had been freed, but concern remains for those still behind bars. Stories of extended detentions without trial, limited legal recourse and reports of mistreatment have underscored decades-long criticism of the Venezuelan justice system as politically charged and highly restrictive.
International Context and Diplomatic Ripples
The release also has international diplomatic dimensions. Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the move “a very positive step,” highlighting the return of Spanish citizens as a welcome outcome of the evolving situation in Venezuela.
The actions appear to follow significant geopolitical pressure and shifting alignments in Caracas. The United States, which carried out the operation that led to Maduro’s arrest earlier this month, had publicly advocated for the release of political detainees. Some observers see the gesture as part of Venezuela’s effort to reset relations with external actors amid changing power dynamics.
Despite these shifts, international rights observers warn that state repression has not fully ceased. Recent detentions of journalists and activists underscore ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and political plurality in the country.
Opposition Response and Calls for Broader Release
Venezuela’s opposition, which has long decried the use of arbitrary detention against political rivals, welcomed the freed individuals but emphasised that much more remains to be done. Opposition figure María Corina Machado, a vocal critic of successive governments and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has repeatedly called for the immediate release of all political prisoners and an end to state repression.
Machado and other opposition leaders argue that the current releases must be followed by systemic legal reforms that guarantee due process and end the widespread use of politically motivated charges. Without such changes, they say, such gestures risk being one-off political manoeuvres rather than meaningful steps toward justice and reconciliation.
Historical Context of Political Detentions
Venezuela has endured recurring episodes of detaining political opponents and critics, particularly in the aftermath of contentious elections or significant protests. Human rights monitors have documented instances where activists, journalists and political figures were charged under broad security laws or accused of plotting against the government.
The release of five political prisoners, while limited in scale compared with the total number of detainees, nonetheless represents one of the more noteworthy gestures in Venezuela’s recent political history, particularly given the larger backdrop of dramatic political developments and international scrutiny.
Looking Forward: Skepticism and Hope
For many watchers of Venezuelan politics, the releases have opened a window of cautious optimism, even as skepticism persists about underlying motivations and the durability of reforms. Some see the move as an early indication of a potential shift away from patterns of repression that characterised much of the late Maduro era, while others caution that it may be a tactical concession aimed at deflecting international criticism and stabilising a fraught political environment.
Civil liberties advocates continue to call for independent investigations into the justice system, broader release of detainees, and institutional reforms that uphold human rights and protect political freedoms. As the situation evolves, the true impact of the prisoner releases on Venezuela’s political fabric and social cohesion will depend on whether they are followed by substantive policy changes and genuine dialogue between authorities and civil society.
For now, the freedom of these five individuals — particularly those with international visibility — is being viewed as both a symbolic and practical step toward alleviating decades-long grievances, even as long-standing challenges to justice and political inclusivity remain central to Venezuela’s path forward.
