On Monday, Venezuela’s government released at least 24 political prisoners, according to the non-governmental organization Foro Penal.
This group is just a small portion of over 800 political prisoners reported by Foro Penal at the close of 2025. The organization noted on social media that, as of 2:43 a.m. local time, nine women and 15 men were freed. The women had been held at La Crisalida Women’s Prison in Los Tex, Miranda, while the men were confined in Rodeo 1 Prison in Zamora, Miranda.
“We also confirm the release of other Venezuelans and foreign nationals that occurred early this morning,” wrote Foro Penal.
Among those released were Italian Alberto Trentini, an aid worker from Venice, and businessman Mario Burlo from Turin, both of whom had been wrongfully detained since November 2024. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that, as of now, no solely Italian citizens are imprisoned in Venezuela. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated their release, expressing through a video on social media that they would soon be returning home.
“This news brings us joy and adds to the happiness we’ve felt recently with the release of more compatriots. Trentini and Burlo will soon be with their families. They’ve endured so much in recent months, and we want to renew our affection for them,” Meloni remarked.
She added, “This outcome is a result of diligent efforts by the government, diplomatic networks, and intelligence services over the past months. I want to thank every state official who played a role in achieving this goal. We’ll keep working tirelessly to ensure our cooperative efforts with Caracas lead to more positive outcomes. Ultimately, Italy will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Venezuelan people for freedom, peace, and democracy.”
Before the mass release, Foro Penal president Alfredo Romero mentioned that the Venezuelan government had previously announced that only 17 political prisoners had been released since January 8. This announcement was made by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, who framed these releases as a “unilateral gesture” for peace and productivity in the country.
Last week, Foro Penal clarified that, as of December 29, 2025, Venezuela housed 863 confirmed political prisoners, including 862 adults and teenagers aged between 14 and 17. The organization still doesn’t know the whereabouts of 68 of these prisoners. At the time of reporting, the conditions of most political prisoners remained unclear.
On Sunday, the Venezuelan Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners condemned the death of Edison Jose Torres Fernández, a 52-year-old political prisoner, who died while in custody. Torres Fernández had been wrongfully arrested in December 2025 for sharing messages critical of the Venezuelan government and the governor of his home state.
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab stated that Torres Fernández suffered a “sudden health decline” and was taken to a medical center, where he was initially stable but later suffered a stroke and ultimately passed away, although specifics were not provided.
Human rights groups in Venezuela criticized the government’s slow and ongoing process of releasing political prisoners, terming it “institutional indifference.” Families of many of the prisoners have recently held prayer vigils outside detention facilities, hoping for the release of their loved ones. Some relatives who finally met with the prisoners expressed happiness but stated they hadn’t received any news beforehand.
Additionally, relatives of political prisoners held demonstrations, including an overnight vigil outside the Helicoide, a notorious detention center. The gathered group called for the immediate enforcement of the release order that offers extensive freedom for their relatives.
Reports from Venezuelan news outlet El Nacional indicated that no political prisoners had been released from the Helicoide since Rodriguez’s announcement on Thursday. As of now, local news organizations have not mentioned any additional political prisoners being let go beyond the 24 released early Monday morning.
On Friday, President Donald Trump noted in a post that a second wave of attacks had been halted due to the Venezuelan government’s release of “a large number” of political prisoners. He characterized this action as a significant step toward peace, stating that cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela, particularly relating to the oil and gas sector, was improving.
“Due to this collaboration, I have canceled the anticipated second wave of attacks, which may not be required, though all vessels will remain in place for safety and security,” Trump mentioned.
