Rights group leader says 104 political prisoners released in Venezuela


  • World
  • Monday, 26 Jan 2026

A relative of a prisoner lights a candle during a protest calling for the release of political prisoners, amid prisoner releases by the Venezuelan government following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro, outside the National Police Zone 7 Detention Centre, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Maxwell Briceno

Jan 25 (Reuters) - At ‌least 104 people considered political prisoners ‌by a leading Venezuelan rights group ‌were released on Sunday as part of an ongoing release process, according to the leader of the ‍group.

They were released from prisons ‍across the country ‌and more releases were likely taking place, Alfredo ‍Romero, ​the director of Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal, said ⁠on X.

"It would be ideal if the ‌government published lists of those released," Romero said.

Venezuela's ⁠interim president ‍Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that 626 people have been released from prison, without ‍specifying the timeline of the ‌reported releases.

Prior to Sunday, Foro Penal had confirmed the release of just 156 political prisoners in Venezuela since January 8.

Rodriguez said that she is due to have a call on Monday with the United Nations High ‌Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to ask the U.N. to verify the lists of those ​released so far in the Andean nation.

(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Nick Zieminski and Deepa Babington)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Death toll from landslide in Indonesia's West Java rises to 17
Former South Korean PM Lee Hae-chan has died in Vietnam at 73
Death toll in Philippine boat accident climbs to 15, hundreds rescued
Japan PM Takaichi's administration sees approval rating fall to 67%, poll shows
Flash: Philippine officials say ferry carrying over 350 people sank, rescue ongoing: media
"Mercy" tops North American box office in opening weekend
1st LD Writethru: 2 dead as U.S. hit by historic winter storm
Trump moved to cut funding for ICE body cameras, pared back oversight
Explainer-Can ICE agents be prosecuted for Minneapolis shootings?
One rescued, 50 feared drowned after migrant boat sinks off Tunisia

Others Also Read