In a move that has raised eyebrows, the Venezuelan government has announced the release of a number of political prisoners, a gesture that has been met with scepticism from both the opposition and the international community. The release, which was touted as a “goodwill gesture,” comes in the wake of the US government’s seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on the capital, Caracas, on 3 January.
The son of a jailed Venezuelan opposition leader, Ramón Guanipa, has warned President Donald Trump not to be “fooled” by the government’s pledge, as only around 40 releases out of more than 800 political prisoners have been confirmed so far. Guanipa’s father, Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close ally of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, went into hiding after being accused of terrorism and treason for challenging the results of the 2024 presidential election, which the UN described as lacking “basic transparency and integrity.”
The Venezuelan government’s announcement about the prisoner releases came a day after Trump said that the authorities would shut down El Helicoide, the country’s most notorious prison, which has gained international notoriety for detaining alleged political opponents. However, the slow pace of the releases has raised doubts about the interim government’s intentions and its willingness to cooperate with the US.
Outside El Helicoide, the atmosphere is tense, with relatives of those still behind bars expressing their frustration at the lack of progress. Carmen Farfán, whose son José Gregorio Reyes was detained along with his wife and a friend while in hospital in western Venezuela, has come to the prison to join others in pleading for their loved ones’ release, but has received no answers.
The developments are being viewed as the first test of Trump’s influence in Venezuela following the removal of Maduro. While Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has appeared to welcome cooperation with the Trump administration, her public statements have condemned any form of US intervention.
The opposition and human rights groups have long accused the government of using detentions to stamp out dissent and silence critics, but officials have repeatedly denied that Venezuela holds any political prisoners, arguing that those detained were arrested for criminal activity.
As the situation in Venezuela remains uncertain, the release of political prisoners has been described as an “urgent” step towards any transition of power. However, the limited progress so far has raised concerns about the interim government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and cooperating with the US.
