Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday (January 23, 2026) that over 600 inmates have been released, far more than estimated by rights groups, who are demanding the liberation of all political prisoners.
Days after the U.S. ouster of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro in a January 3 bombing raid on Caracas, the government undertook to release a "large number" of the hundreds of Maduro opponents languishing in prison.
The announcement, which was hailed by Washington, created expectations of large groups of prisoners walking free.
But the releases have taken place in dribs and drabs.
Ms. Rodriguez said 626 prisoners have been released since December and said she would ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to verify the number.
