Venezuela has started releasing multiple Americans detained across the country, according to a US state department official. The official did not confirm the identities or number of prisoners released by Venezuela, but in a statement called the move 'an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities'.
This is the first known release of American citizens since a US military operation seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a raid in the capital Caracas on 3 January, to face drug trafficking charges in New York.
The UN states that Venezuela has so far released about 50 prisoners of what human rights groups estimate are 800 political prisoners detained in the country.
The Venezuelan government, led by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, announced last week it would begin releasing 'a significant' number of individuals considered political prisoners as a 'goodwill gesture'.
Some domestic opposition figures and at least five Spanish citizens are among those confirmed to have been freed so far.
Recently, Donald Trump indicated on his Truth Social account that the process of freeing detainees in Venezuela had begun 'in a BIG WAY'. He noted that he canceled a planned second wave of airstrikes on Venezuela once he learned of Caracas' cooperation in the release.
These developments are being viewed as the first test of Trump's influence in Venezuela following Maduro's removal. However, critics argue the interim government has not been transparent about its commitments, including Ramón Guanipa, whose father remains imprisoned.
Guanipa advised Trump to 'not be fooled' by the gestures of the authorities until all political prisoners are released. Human rights groups have continuously alleged that the government uses detentions as a means to silence dissent.
Amid the backdrop of these releases, Maduro's government continues to deny holding any political prisoners, maintaining that those detained were guilty of criminal behavior.
Many of these detentions followed the 2024 presidential election, where Maduro proclaimed victory despite significant opposition challenge.
