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As Diógenes Angulo stepped out of a Venezuelan prison on Saturday, the 19-year-old trembled alongside his mother and aunt, struggling to find words after spending a year and five months behind bars. His release marked one of the first tangible outcomes of Venezuela’s government pledge to free political prisoners, a development that has left families gathered outside detention facilities across the country waiting anxiously for similar reunions.
“Thank God, I’m going to enjoy my family again,” Angulo told The Associated Press shortly after his release. He had been detained two days before Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election for posting a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez. He was only 17 at the time of his arrest.
Minutes after regaining his freedom, Angulo learned of the shocking news that former President Nicolás Maduro had been captured by U.S. forces in a nighttime raid in Caracas on January 3, a dramatic intervention that has upended Venezuela’s political landscape.
Venezuela’s government announced Thursday its intention to free a “significant number” of prisoners as a gesture to “seek peace.” However, officials have not provided specifics about which detainees would be released or how many, leaving human rights organizations scrambling for information and families in agonizing uncertainty.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed credit for the prisoner releases, stating they came at Washington’s request. “Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners,” Trump wrote Saturday on his Truth Social platform. “Thank you! I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.” He added an ominous warning that “it will not be good for them” should the freed prisoners forget.
Despite the government’s pledge, progress has been slow. By Saturday night, only 16 people imprisoned for political reasons had been freed, according to Foro Penal, a Venezuelan advocacy group for prisoners. The organization reported that 804 political prisoners remain behind bars.
Among the notable releases was human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel, who immediately relocated to Spain. Her brother clarified in a statement that her release “is not full freedom, but rather a precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty.” The conditions prohibit her from speaking to media.
“This situation does not constitute exile, nor a waiver of her rights, but is part of the humanitarian and diplomatic agreements reached to facilitate her release,” José Manuel San Miguel explained.
Many prominent opposition figures detained after the contested 2024 presidential election remain imprisoned, including former lawmaker Freddy Superlano and Perkins Rocha, lawyer for opposition leader María Corina Machado. Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and close Machado ally, and Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González, also await release.
One week after the unprecedented U.S. military intervention in Caracas, government supporters marched in cities across Venezuela demanding Maduro’s return. The former president and his wife, Cilia Flores, were transferred to the United States, where they face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism. Both have pleaded not guilty.
In Caracas, demonstrators waved Venezuelan flags and chanted, “Maduro, keep on going, the people are rising.”
Acting president Delcy Rodríguez, speaking at a public event in Caracas, condemned the U.S. action. “There is a government, that of President Nicolás Maduro, and I have the responsibility to take charge while his kidnapping lasts… We will not stop condemning the criminal aggression,” she declared.
Following Maduro’s removal, Trump stated the U.S. would “run” the South American country and demanded access to its vast oil resources, which he promised would “benefit the people” of both nations. “I love the Venezuelan people and I am already making Venezuela prosperous and safe again,” Trump claimed in his Saturday statement.
In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, the U.S. and Venezuelan governments announced Friday they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations, which were severed in 2019, and the reopening of their respective diplomatic missions. A U.S. delegation made a brief visit to Venezuela on Friday to advance these discussions.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil responded to comments from Pope Leo XIV calling for peace and “respecting the will of the Venezuelan people.” Gil affirmed that Venezuela “is a country that builds, works, and defends its sovereignty with peace and dignity,” inviting the pontiff “to get to know this reality more closely.”
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7 Comments
While the prisoner releases are a positive step, Venezuela’s political and economic crisis remains extremely challenging. I hope this leads to further progress on human rights and democratic reforms, but a lot will depend on how the situation unfolds.
It’s good to see some tangible progress on the prisoner release front in Venezuela, even if the overall political picture remains murky. I’ll be curious to see if this momentum can be sustained and translated into broader improvements.
The prisoner releases seem like a goodwill gesture from the Venezuelan government, but there are likely deeper political motives at play. I’m curious to see if this leads to broader improvements in the country’s human rights record and political environment.
The prisoner releases are an interesting development, but the capture of Maduro adds another layer of complexity. I wonder how this will impact the government’s negotiation efforts and the broader path forward for Venezuela.
The news of Maduro’s reported capture by US forces is quite dramatic. I wonder how this will impact the prisoner release efforts and the broader political dynamics in Venezuela going forward. It’s an evolving situation worth watching closely.
The prisoner releases are a step in the right direction, but Venezuela’s challenges are deeply rooted. I hope this leads to further progress on human rights and democratic reforms, but much will depend on the broader political dynamics at play.
Interesting development in Venezuela. Releasing political prisoners is a positive step, though the overall political situation remains complex. It will be important to closely monitor whether this leads to meaningful progress on human rights and democratic reforms.