Venezuela’s Ongoing Release of Prisoners

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Wednesday that the country would persist in releasing prisoners who were incarcerated during Nicolás Maduro’s presidency. This move is being described as a “new political moment” for Venezuela, according to reports.

Her remarks came shortly after the transitional government freed at least four Americans detained in Venezuela. This marked the first known release of American citizens since President Maduro was removed from power in a U.S. military operation earlier this month.

During her initial press conference as acting leader in Caracas, Rodríguez stated that the process of releasing detainees is “not yet finished.” She emphasized ongoing efforts to free individuals still held under Maduro’s regime.

She also called for a “Venezuela that tolerates political and ideological diversity and opens itself to a new political moment.”

Release of American Citizens

Recent reports indicate that around 800 prisoners may still be held in detention facilities, including various political leaders, military personnel, and lawyers, as cited by the Venezuelan human rights organization Foro Penal. Rodríguez mentioned that the government claims to have already released 212 detainees, although human rights advocates suggest the actual figure might be lower.

Different Perspectives on the Releases

Supporters of President Maduro argue that these prisoner releases do not signify a departure from previous policies and do not result from U.S. pressure. Instead, they attribute the initiative to Maduro himself, who supposedly ordered the release of 194 detainees back in December to promote an environment of understanding and coexistence.

Rodríguez, however, didn’t provide an explicit set of criteria for which prisoners would be released. She hinted that decisions would be informed by evaluations related to “crimes against the constitutional order” and stressed that “messages of hatred, intolerance, and acts of violence will not be tolerated.”

The responsibility for coordinating these releases falls to Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Conversation with President Trump

Recently, President Donald Trump shared that he had a “great conversation” with Rodríguez, marking their first dialogue since Maduro was apprehended and extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges. Trump mentioned, “We had a call. It was a long call. We talked about a lot of things. I think we’ll get along very well with Venezuela.”