Venezuela Releases Prisoners After Maduro; Hundreds Remain
- Relatives of prisoners hold candles during a vigil while waiting updates on the release of prisoners outside "El Rodeo" prison on Jan.
- BOGOTA,Colombia - To crush dissent over the past 13 years,Venezuela's authoritarian regime arrested thousands of protesters,students and opposition activists.
- But as of Monday morning, just 41 of the more than 800 political prisoners have been freed, according to Foro Penal, a Venezuelan legal aid group that works...
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Relatives of prisoners hold candles during a vigil while waiting updates on the release of prisoners outside “El Rodeo” prison on Jan. 9, 2026 in Miranda, Venezuela.
Jesus vargas/Getty Images South America
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Jesus Vargas/getty Images South America
BOGOTA,Colombia – To crush dissent over the past 13 years,Venezuela’s authoritarian regime arrested thousands of protesters,students and opposition activists. Now, in the aftermath of the U.S. raid that ousted President Nicolás Maduro, the new government is starting to release political prisoners.
But as of Monday morning, just 41 of the more than 800 political prisoners have been freed, according to Foro Penal, a Venezuelan legal aid group that works on their behalf.
“It’s good news but we are worried because this process has been so slow,” Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal, told NPR.