The NGO Foro Penal, dedicated to the defense of political prisoners in Venezuela, reported this Wednesday that it had verified 72 releases since Thursday. This wave of releases comes days after the government announced a process to release a “significant number” of detainees.
Through his account in Among those released are more than a dozen journalists who regained their freedom this Wednesday.
The balance of Delcy Rodríguez
Compared to the NGO’s count, the president in charge, Delcy Rodríguez, offered a much higher official figure. He declared this Wednesday that 406 political prisoners have been released to date, a process that, he stated, “remains open” with the aim of “opening a new chapter” of political understanding.
This announcement expands on what was expressed days before by his brother, Jorge Rodríguez, president of Parliament and chief official negotiator, who had been the first to announce the mass release.
Delcy Rodríguez asegura que han sido excarcelados unos 400 presos políticos y que en teoría vienen más… pic.twitter.com/pZooAe767N
— Sergio Novelli (@SergioNovelliE) January 14, 2026
They demand to know the names of those released
Despite official statements, opacity persists. On Tuesday, Jorge Rodríguez claimed to have made available the “lists” of those released, but these have not been made public, generating claims from NGOs, activists, family members and political parties that demand to know the names and the full scope of the process.
The NGO Provea denounced on Tuesday that “undue delays and authoritarian abuses continue,” which, in its opinion, is preventing the announced releases from fully materializing.
