• Venezuela has released at least 104 political prisoners as part of a process influenced by U.S. pressure.
• The Venezuelan government claims over 600 total detainees have been freed since December.
• Rights group Foro Penal disputes government figures, stating that only about half have been released.
• Internationals call for verification of release lists by the United Nations.
• This release follows the abduction of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

On January 25, human rights organization Foro Penal reported the release of at least 104 individuals identified as political prisoners in Venezuela, amid increasing pressure from the United States. Alfredo Romero, the director of Foro Penal, indicated that verification of identities of those freed would continue, suggesting that the number might rise as the organization processes additional information related to the releases, according to SCMP, BBC, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

The Venezuelan authorities claimed that more than 600 detainees have been released since late December; however, Foro Penal contests this figure, asserting that only about half of that number corresponds to their confirmed releases. Among those recently freed was Kennedy Tejeda, a lawyer who was imprisoned after providing legal assistance to political detainees, reflecting the complex context of recent political tensions in Venezuela following the abduction of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. special forces, according to SCMP, BBC, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

Despite these releases, human rights advocates express concerns regarding the ongoing detentions and the condition of remaining political prisoners. Many of those freed have not had the charges against them dismissed, leaving them in a precarious legal situation. Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s interim leader, indicated that she intends to discuss the situation with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, seeking validation of the release lists provided by the Venezuelan government. These developments signal a cautious step in Venezuelan politics amidst ongoing international scrutiny, according to SCMP, BBC, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.