Venezuela has released a “large number” of high-profile political prisoners, including several foreigners, in an apparent concession to the United States less than a week after its forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The releases on Thursday were the first since Maduro’s former deputy Delcy Rodriguez took office as interim leader, with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Former Venezuelan opposition candidate Enrique Marquez—who opposed Maduro in the contested 2024 presidential election—was among those released on Thursday.
Delcy Rodriguez’s brother, parliament speaker Jorge Rodriguez, said “a large number of Venezuelan and foreign nationals” were being immediately freed for the sake of “peaceful coexistence”.
Venezuelan rights NGO Foro Penal estimates more than 800 political prisoners are in the country’s jails.
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