WILLEMSTAD — Venezuela has begun releasing detained American citizens and other prisoners, marking a notable shift in the country’s prison releases following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The releases are part of a broader effort by Venezuela’s interim authorities to free prisoners in what they describe as a gesture toward peace and cooperation with the United States.
According to a U.S. State Department official, multiple Americans who were detained in Venezuela have been freed by the interim government. The exact number of released U.S. citizens is not officially disclosed, but reports indicate that at least four Americans were freed on Tuesday, and another was released the previous day. State Department representatives even traveled to Venezuela to help facilitate the process.
The prisoner releases coincide with announcements from Venezuelan authorities that they are freeing a significant number of other inmates, including political detainees. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the government was granting releases as part of a peaceful reconciliation process following the dramatic U.S. military operation that led to Maduro’s capture.
However, rights groups and independent monitors dispute the official figures. While the Venezuelan government claims that hundreds of prisoners have been released, human rights organizations such as Foro Penal estimate that far fewer — between 56 and around 116 political prisoners — have actually walked free so far. Many of the remaining prisoners are reportedly still held under restrictive conditions, with limited transparency about the process.
The releases draw attention amid broader diplomatic engagement between the United States and Venezuela following heightened tensions. U.S. officials have welcomed the releases of Americans and described the actions as an important step in the right direction.
The evolving situation continues to be closely watched by governments, human rights advocates, and families of detainees, as Venezuela navigates internal pressures and international scrutiny in the aftermath of Maduro’s capture.