Venezuela's Surprising Release of Political Prisoners Amidst US Pressure

Venezuela's Gesture for Peace

In a significant move, Venezuela announced the release of several prominent opposition leaders, activists, and journalists on Thursday, which the government framed as a step towards fostering peace. This decision comes shortly after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by US authorities on drug trafficking charges.

President Donald Trump, who has been exerting pressure on Maduro's allies to align with his vision for Venezuela's future, indicated that these releases were made at the request of the United States.

During an interview on Fox News, Trump commended the acting President Delcy Rodríguez's administration, stating, "They’ve been great... Everything we’ve wanted, they’ve given us."

Jorge Rodríguez, the acting president's brother and head of Venezuela's National Assembly, mentioned that a "significant number" of individuals would be released, although details on the specific individuals or the total number were still unclear by late Thursday.

The US government and Venezuelan opposition have long called for the release of imprisoned politicians and critics, while the Venezuelan government maintains that it does not hold political prisoners.

"Consider this a gesture by the Bolivarian government, broadly intended to seek peace," Rodríguez announced.

Notable Releases

Among those freed was Biaggio Pilieri, an opposition figure involved in María Corina Machado's 2024 presidential campaign, as reported by Foro Penal, a Caracas-based prisoner advocacy group. Enrique Márquez, a former electoral authority and candidate for the upcoming presidential election, was also released.

Social media footage captured Márquez and Pilieri joyfully reuniting with their families outside the prison, with Márquez expressing his excitement in a video call, saying, "Soon I will be with you all."

Additionally, five Spanish nationals, including the well-known Venezuelan-Spanish lawyer and human rights advocate Rocío San Miguel, were released. As the evening progressed, reports emerged of more detainees being set free, prompting relatives waiting outside a Caracas prison to chant, "Libertad! Libertad!"

Historically, Venezuela's government has released political prisoners during times of heightened tension to signal a willingness to engage in dialogue. These recent releases mark the first since Maduro's ousting.

Mixed Reactions

Human rights advocates and opposition members expressed cautious optimism regarding the releases, though the implications remain uncertain—whether this indicates a transitional government or a strategic move to appease the Trump administration, which has maintained pressure through sanctions.

Opposition leader Machado, who has been sidelined by Trump's endorsement of Rodríguez, described the releases as "an act of moral restitution."

"Nothing brings back the stolen years," she stated in a message to families of the released detainees, encouraging them to find solace in the belief that "injustice will not be eternal and that the truth, though badly wounded, eventually prevails."

Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, expressed cautious hope that this could signal the beginning of dismantling a repressive system in Venezuela, rather than a superficial gesture of releasing a few prisoners while continuing to detain others.

Despite a crackdown during the tumultuous 2024 elections, where the government claimed to have detained 2,000 individuals, it denies holding unjustly imprisoned individuals, accusing them of attempting to destabilize Maduro's regime.

Spanish Nationals Released

The Spanish government confirmed the release of five of its citizens, including dual national San Miguel, who are expected to return to Spain soon. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares identified the other released individuals as Andrés Martínez, José María Basoa, Ernesto Gorbe, and Miguel Moreno.

Martínez and Basoa were arrested in September 2024, accused of plotting against Maduro's government, allegations that Spain has strongly denied. Reports indicate that Gorbe was detained in 2024 for overstaying his visa.

Families Await News

As news of the releases spread, families of detainees flocked to prisons nationwide, eager for updates on their loved ones. Pedro Durán, 60, was among those anxiously waiting outside a prison in Guatire, hoping to reunite with his brother Franklin, who was detained in 2021 on charges of attempting to overthrow Maduro's government—an accusation his family disputes.

Having traveled from Spain upon hearing rumors of potential releases, Durán expressed his overwhelming emotions, stating, "I don’t have words to express the emotion I’m feeling. We’re feeling a lot of hope... We’re just waiting now."

Despite the hope, fear lingered among families. "Of course everyone here is very scared, but what more could (the government) do to us that they haven’t done already?" he added.

Political Strategy Behind Releases

Ronal Rodríguez, a researcher at the Venezuelan Observatory at the University of Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia, noted that the government often releases prisoners at politically advantageous times.

In July of the previous year, Venezuela freed 10 jailed US citizens and permanent residents in exchange for the repatriation of over 200 Venezuelans deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador, where they had been held in a prison designed for criminal gangs.

"The regime uses them like a bargaining chip," he remarked about the prisoners in Venezuela. The true significance of these releases will depend on the number of individuals freed, the conditions of their release, and whether any high-profile figures are included.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration took steps to assert control over Venezuelan oil by seizing two sanctioned tankers transporting petroleum and announcing plans to ease some sanctions to oversee the global sale of Venezuela's oil.

These actions reflect the administration's commitment to influence Venezuela's future through its oil resources, following Trump's pledge to "run" the country after Maduro's capture.

Trump mentioned during the Fox News interview that Machado might visit Washington next week, expressing his eagerness to meet her.