Venezuela Frees 24 More Political Prisoners, Rights Group Says

Since an interim government began the releases last week, at least 41 people have been let go, according to Foro Penal.Family members of political prisoners waiting for releases outside the Rodeo I prison on Friday.Credit...The New York TimesJan. 12, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ETVenezuela’s leading human rights organization said on Monday that at least 24 political prisoners had been released from prison in the early morning, bringing the total freed in recent days to at least 41.The number could soon rise: Just after 6 a.m. local time, Gonzalo Himiob, a leader of Foro Penal, the rights group, said on social media that even more prisoners might have been freed.The releases, which began on Thursday, represent the most visible gesture of change for the interim Venezuelan government. On Jan. 3, American soldiers raided the country and captured President Nicolás Maduro.Venezuela’s interim government has promised to free an “important number” of detainees. Rights groups estimate that between 800 and 900 political prisoners are incarcerated in Venezuela, many under harsh conditions.Two of the people released on Monday were Italian citizens, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy said on Facebook. Some of those who have been released in recent days are prominent members of the Venezuelan opposition.Rocío San Miguel, who was released on Thursday, had been investigating the authoritarian government. Enrique Márquez, a former presidential candidate who had demanded voting records from the disputed 2024 election, was also freed.Most of these prisoners were charged with incitement of hate, terrorism or conspiring to overthrow the government for simply exercising basic political rights, rights groups say.The releases have offered some optimism for a more democratic future in Venezuela, but they come as the interim government has intensified a crackdown on other citizens, interrogating people and searching their phones for signs of support for Mr. Maduro’s capture.ImageA rally in support of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas last week.Credit...The New York TimesAmelia Nierenberg is a Times reporter covering international news from London.SKIP Site IndexNewsHome PageU.S.WorldPoliticsNew YorkEducationSportsBusinessTechScienceWeatherThe Great ReadObituariesHeadwayVisual InvestigationsThe MagazineArtsBook ReviewBest Sellers Book ListDanceMoviesMusicPop CultureTelevisionTheaterVisual ArtsLifestyleHealthWellFoodRestaurant ReviewsLoveTravelStyleFashionReal EstateT MagazineOpinionToday's OpinionColumnistsEditorialsGuest EssaysOp-DocsLettersSunday OpinionOpinion VideoOpinion AudioMoreAudioGamesCookingWirecutterThe AthleticJobsVideoGraphicsTrendingLive EventsCorrectionsReader CenterTimesMachineThe Learning NetworkSchool of The NYTinEducationAccountSubscribeManage My AccountHome DeliveryGift SubscriptionsGroup SubscriptionsGift ArticlesEmail NewslettersNYT LicensingReplica EditionTimes Store