Venezuela Reports 1,046 Detained Individuals Returned Home

Acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, announced on Saturday that 1,046 individuals who were previously detained have now returned to their homes. She stated on the social media platform X that these releases are part of "agreements reached among Venezuelans" and pledged continued progress with responsibility, though she provided no further details.

The figure of 1,046 released individuals precisely matches a number shared by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday. Rubio had indicated that this number of Venezuelans had been freed since January 3, following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a military operation in Caracas. Rubio stated that the U.S. would continue to closely monitor the ongoing discussions and the fulfillment of commitments within a three-phase plan aimed at stabilization, recovery, and transition.

On Friday, a government statement shared on X mentioned that 131 of these releases were "agreed upon by the republic's courts, at the request of the Public Ministry." This followed a request for case evaluations by the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, established by the acting president.

However, opposition leaders, activists, and human rights organizations continue to demand the full release of all political prisoners, which the NGO Foro Penal estimates at over 390. The Venezuelan government denies the existence of political prisoners, asserting that those detained were arrested for committing crimes, a claim rejected by various opposition groups and parties.

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1,046 compatriots who were deprived of liberty have returned to their homes within the framework of agreements reached among Venezuelans. We will continue to advance responsibly.