Venezuela Frees First Political Detainees in ‘Peace’ Gesture After U.S. Operation

Venezuela has begun releasing a small group of high-profile detainees, including opposition figures, in what the government described as a gesture "to seek peace" following a U.S. operation that reportedly captured President Nicolás Maduro. By Friday afternoon, at least nine people had been freed, a number human rights group Penal Forum says represents just over 1% of the country’s political prisoners.

Who Was Released

Among the first to be freed were Enrique Márquez, a former presidential candidate, and Biagio Pilieri, a businessman and former lawmaker. Both were held at El Helicoide, a notorious intelligence and detention complex in Caracas. Video verified by CNN Español showed tearful reunions as freed detainees embraced relatives outside detention sites.

Government Statements And International Returns

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the releases were "taking place immediately" and would include Venezuelan and foreign nationals, without listing exact names or totals. Spain’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that five Spanish nationals—one with dual citizenship—had been released and were returning to Spain; Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said he had spoken with them and expressed joy at their release.

Context And Concerns

The move comes days after a dramatic U.S. operation that, according to multiple reports, captured Maduro and transported him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Following that operation, U.S. officials pressed for steps including the release of political prisoners as part of efforts to establish an interim government in Venezuela, according to sources briefed on internal discussions.

El Helicoide, the headquarters of Venezuela's intelligence service and detention center, on Jan. 8, after Caracas said it would release Venezuelan and foreign prisoners. - Matias Delacroix/AP

Human rights groups cautioned that the releases are only a small fraction of those detained. Penal Forum reported 863 political prisoners remained in custody as of early January. Amnesty International documented that more than 2,000 people were arrested in a crackdown after Venezuela’s disputed 2024 presidential election. A 2025 Human Rights Watch investigation found many political detainees held incommunicado and denied visits from family and lawyers.

Calls For Transparency

The Committee for the Liberation of Political Prisoners in Venezuela (CLIPPVE) urged swift, transparent handling of further releases, saying secrecy has intensified anxiety among families of detainees. Penal Forum said it would verify each release. Families outside El Helicoide reported confusion and a lack of official information; "What we know is what we have seen in the media," one relative told Reuters.

Security Decree And Ongoing Risks

Since Maduro's removal, acting president Delcy Rodríguez issued a decree granting broad powers to the presidency and instructing security forces to detain "any person involved in the promotion or support" of the weekend attack, measures that rights groups warned could exacerbate repression. CLIPPVE reported that, during this period, political prisoners' visiting rights were suspended and communication with the outside world was restricted.

Note: Reporting on this situation is evolving. Many details, including the full list of released detainees and the status of detained foreign nationals, remain unconfirmed by independent sources.

Journalists from CNN contributed to reporting on these events. Human rights organizations continue to monitor developments and verify individual releases.