Venezuela’s interim administration has initiated the release of individuals detained by human rights organizations as political prisoners. Officials characterized this action as a gesture of goodwill aimed at promoting national unity and peaceful coexistence. Jorge Rodriguez, heading the National Assembly, announced the releases would occur immediately but declined to specify how many detainees would be freed or provide their identities.
Spain’s foreign ministry confirmed that five Spanish nationals, including one holding dual citizenship, have been released. Rights activist Rocio San Miguel appears among those freed. San Miguel, detained since February 2024 at Maiquetia airport near Caracas, faced accusations of involvement in an alleged assassination plot against the former president. Authorities had charged her with treason, conspiracy, and terrorism.
The releases represent a reversal from the government’s longstanding position denying the existence of political prisoners. Attorney General Tarek Saab previously insisted detained individuals faced legitimate criminal charges, not political persecution. Yet the opposition and international human rights organizations have consistently documented the government’s use of detention to suppress dissent and silence critical voices, particularly intensifying after the disputed 2024 election.
El Helicoide prison holds approximately 50 to 80 detainees. This facility has earned international condemnation for confining alleged political opponents under conditions involving documented torture, including beatings and electrocution. President Donald Trump announced closure plans for this institution following recent developments. Human rights group Provea cautioned that attention to El Helicoide’s closure should not overshadow numerous other detention facilities continuing operations throughout the country.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient with several imprisoned allies, has persistently demanded prisoner releases. Venezuelan human rights organizations have cautiously welcomed the current releases while remaining vigilant about their limited scope. Only a handful of prisoners have been confirmed freed from hundreds held in detention. The interim government’s cooperation with international pressure remains uncertain regarding the broader prisoner population still confined across various facilities.
