• Venezuela is releasing a significant number of political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures, as a gesture to seek peace.
• The releases come less than a week after former President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces.
• U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the releases were made at the request of the United States.
• Human rights groups report that approximately 800 political prisoners remain in custody in Venezuela.
• The situation has sparked a mix of hope and skepticism regarding a genuine democratic transition.

Venezuela has initiated the release of a “significant number” of citizens and foreigners imprisoned for political reasons, described by officials as a gesture to “seek peace.” This decision follows the recent capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces to face drug-trafficking charges. Jorge Rodríguez, the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly and brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, announced that the release process is currently underway. However, he did not specify the exact number of prisoners being released or their identities, creating speculation about the significance of this move, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

Among the first confirmed releases was prominent Venezuelan-Spanish lawyer and rights activist Rocío San Miguel, alongside several other Spanish nationals. Human rights groups rejoice at the first releases since Maduro's deposition but caution against viewing them as a total shift toward a more democratic regime, expressing concerns that this act might merely be a strategic political maneuver in response to U.S. pressure, reports Al Jazeera, NPR, and India Times.

Human rights organizations like Foro Penal have indicated that, as of late last year, there were over 800 political prisoners in Venezuela, with ongoing public pressure for the government to release all unjustly detained individuals. Families anxiously await news outside prisons, hoping to reunite with their loved ones. “The regime uses prisoners like bargaining chips,” noted Ronal Rodríguez, a researcher at the Venezuelan Observatory, further emphasizing the complex nature of these releases, according to Africanews and Latin America Reports.

This series of releases comes amid discussions of a potential transitional government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who has signaled intentions to seek peaceful resolutions and dialogue with various political factions. The effectiveness of this gesture remains under scrutiny, and whether it constitutes a foundational change in governance or a fleeting strategic maneuver in a politically turbulent landscape will be crucial moving forward, suggests Le Monde, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.