Spanish citizens released from Venezuela prison arrive in Madrid

A bystander poses with members of the NGO "Refugiados sin Fronteras" Ilse Quijada and Yoli Suarez as they wait for the arrival of Venezuelan-Spanish human rights activist, Rocio San Miguel, and other Spanish citizens, who were freed during a prisoner release in Venezuela, at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain,January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Susana Vera

MADRID, Jan 9 (Reuters) - ‌Four Spanish nationals and a prominent Venezuelan-Spanish rights ‌activist arrived in Madrid on Friday a ‌day after they were released from prison in Venezuela in the aftermath of the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

U.S. President ‍Donald Trump said on Friday Venezuela ‍was freeing a large ‌number of political prisoners as a sign of "seeking peace" - ‍though ​rights groups there say there have not been any large-scale releases so far.