Families and rights groups await the release of political prisoners in Venezuela after the interim government’s pledge, with only around 20 freed so far.
CARACAS: Venezuelans awaited the release of more political prisoners on Sunday after the interim government’s vow to free detainees jailed under ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.
The government of interim president Delcy Rodriguez began the process on Thursday as a gesture of openness. It pledged cooperation with Washington over demands for Venezuelan oil.
Authorities promised a “large” number would be released. Rights groups and the opposition say only about 20 have been freed since, including several prominent opposition figures.
Rights groups estimate between 800 and 1,200 political prisoners are held in Venezuela.
Rodriguez said Venezuela would take “the diplomatic route” with Washington. This followed former US president Donald Trump’s claim that the United States was “in charge” of the South American country.
“Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners. Thank you!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.”
Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured in a raid on January 3. They were taken to New York to stand trial on drug-trafficking and weapons charges, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Maduro claimed he was “doing well” in jail in New York, according to a video released by his son. His supporters rallied in Caracas on Saturday, but demonstrations were far smaller than in the past.
Families held candlelight vigils outside prisons on Saturday night. They held signs with the names of imprisoned relatives, including prominent opposition ally Freddy Superlano.
“He is alive — that was what I was most afraid about,” Superlano’s wife Aurora Silva told reporters. “He is standing strong and I am sure he is going to come out soon.”
A detained police officer accused of “treason” died in state custody on Sunday. Opposition group Justice First said it held “the regime of Delcy Rodriguez responsible for this death.”
The caretaker president has moved to placate Maduro’s powerful base. Rodriguez has insisted Venezuela is not “subordinate” to Washington.
Trump pressed top oil executives on Friday to invest in Venezuela’s creaky oil infrastructure. Experts say it has suffered from years of mismanagement and sanctions.
Washington confirmed US envoys visited Caracas on Friday to discuss reopening their embassy. Trump also pressured Venezuela’s ally Cuba on Sunday.
He urged Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil to Havana would stop. Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel retorted that the island was “ready to defend the homeland.”
“No one tells us what to do,” he said on X.
Venezuela’s government called for “political and diplomatic dialogue” between Washington and Havana. It said international relations should be governed by principles of non-interference and sovereign equality.
