National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said more than 400 detainees have been released, but rights groups say only 60–70 were freed recently and estimate 800–1,200 political prisoners still remain. The Ministry of Penitentiary Services reported 116 releases on Monday, and AFP cited a U.S. official saying American citizens were among those freed. The claims come amid disputed reports of President Nicolás Maduro’s January 3 abduction and ongoing U.S. efforts to control Venezuelan oil shipments.
Venezuela: Lawmaker Says 400+ Detainees Freed, Rights Groups Dispute Numbers
Protests have taken place demanding the release of political prisoners in Venezuela [Gaby Oraa/Reuters]
Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, told lawmakers on Tuesday that more than 400 people have been released from detention — a figure that rights groups and international monitors say conflicts with their counts of recent releases.
Rodríguez said the releases targeted "not political prisoners, but some politicians who had broken the law and violated the Constitution, people who called for invasion," but he did not provide a clear timeline for when the releases occurred.
Conflicting Counts
Human rights organisations and opposition groups have reported that only 60–70 detainees have been freed in the past week, and continue to estimate that between 800 and 1,200 people remain detained for political reasons following protests linked to the contested 2024 presidential election.
The Ministry of Penitentiary Services said at least 116 prisoners were released on Monday. AFP also quoted an unnamed U.S. State Department official saying that U.S. citizens were among those released.
“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela. This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities,” the official told AFP.
Political Context and International Moves
Both Jorge Rodríguez and U.S. President Donald Trump have previously indicated that some releases would be made as a goodwill gesture following reports that President Nicolás Maduro was abducted on January 3 — claims that have been widely reported and remain highly contentious.
Meanwhile, the United States has stepped up efforts to control Venezuela’s oil trade. Reuters reported that the U.S. government has filed court applications seeking to seize dozens of tankers linked to Venezuelan oil shipments. U.S. naval and Coast Guard forces have already seized several vessels in international waters in recent weeks.
In December, the Trump administration imposed a naval blockade aimed at preventing sanctioned tankers from transporting Venezuelan oil, a move that sharply curtailed the country's oil exports. Shipments have since resumed under U.S. supervision, and U.S. officials say they plan to retain control over Venezuelan oil flows for the foreseeable future.
Outlook
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado — a vocal advocate for releasing detainees, including some of her allies — is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C. Acting Venezuelan authorities are also reported to be sending envoys to the U.S. capital for consultations.
Discrepancies in official and independent counts, limited transparency about release procedures and the politically charged context mean international observers and rights groups are continuing to track and verify the situation closely.
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