According to the publication El Nacional, among those who may be released are Venezuelan politician Juan Pablo Guanipa and human rights activist Rocío San Miguel. The possibility of releasing Enrique Márquez, who previously ran for president, as well as Rafael Tudela, the son-in-law of Edmundo González Urrutia, who the opposition believes actually defeated Nicolás Maduro in the last elections, is also being discussed.
According to the human rights organization Foro Penal, there are currently about 800 political prisoners in Venezuelan jails. Most of them were arrested during protests against Nicolás Maduro's re-election in 2024. International organizations and human rights defenders accuse the Venezuelan authorities of serious human rights violations.
As reported by Venezuelan human rights activist Marta Tineo, the prisoners are being released from the "Helicoid" prison (El Helicoide), known for its brutal conditions and torture of opponents of the Maduro regime.It is worth noting that on January 3, Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by U.S. special forces "Delta" during the military operation "Absolute Resolve." They were taken out of Venezuela first to a U.S. Navy base in Guantanamo and then to New York.
The U.S. government has charged Maduro with "narcoterrorism," illegal possession of weapons, and trafficking in Venezuelan diplomatic passports. In particular, he is accused of leading the criminal group Cartel de los Soles, designated as a terrorist organization in the U.S., as well as conspiring with Colombian drug cartels. Maduro has rejected all charges, calling them an attempt to gain access to Venezuela's oil reserves.
After the U.S. operation, the Supreme Court of Venezuela appointed Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. In her new role, she emphasized that Caracas seeks "balanced and respectful international relations," including with the U.S. Just hours before, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Rodríguez "pays a high price" if she does not start cooperating with U.S. authorities, adding: "Probably a higher price than Maduro," according to The Atlantic.
Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores declared their innocence in court in New York.
For their part, Venezuelan authorities reported 100 fatalities during the U.S. operation.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: topwar.ru.
