SUNTV Global Channel | January 26, 2026
At least 104 political prisoners have been released across Venezuela, according to confirmation by leading human rights organisation Foro Penal, as international pressure—particularly from the United States—mounts on the country’s transitional authorities.
Foro Penal disclosed on Sunday that it had verified the release of 104 detainees from prisons nationwide, noting that the figure could rise as ongoing identity checks continue.
“We have verified 104 releases of political prisoners in Venezuela today,” the organisation announced via its official social media channels.
Earlier in the day, Foro Penal had confirmed 80 releases before updating the number as more information became available. The group’s director, Alfredo Romero, said verification efforts were still underway, while senior attorney Gonzalo Himiob explained that the first releases occurred in the early hours of Sunday.
“This number is not definitive and may increase as verifications continue,” Himiob stated.
The releases follow renewed commitments by Venezuela’s interim leadership under Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power earlier this month after the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces. Rodriguez has pledged to free a “large number” of political detainees, many of whom were imprisoned for opposing the previous administration.
Speaking at a gathering of oil workers in Anzoátegui State, Rodriguez rejected what she described as foreign interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
“Enough orders from Washington about Venezuelan politics,” she said. “Let Venezuelans resolve their differences and internal conflicts.”
She also accused opposition movements of extremism, saying the country had paid a heavy price for what she termed “fascism and radicalism.”
While Venezuelan authorities claim that 626 detainees have been released since December, Foro Penal disputes the figure, saying it has independently documented only about half that number.
Opposition leaders and human rights advocates continue to criticise the pace of the releases, describing the process as slow and lacking transparency. Families of detainees have reportedly remained camped outside detention centres across the country, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments as verification of additional releases continues.
