Overview
- Nicolás Maduro delivered a brief message via a video released by his son and the PSUV saying he and his wife are well while he awaits proceedings in New York.
- Venezuelan officials touted a large-scale release and named former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez and activist Rocío San Miguel, with Spain confirming five Spanish citizens were freed.
- Opposition tallies put the number of releases at about 21 by Saturday evening, rights groups had counted as few as nine earlier, and NGOs say more than 800 people remain jailed for political reasons.
- Families continued to wait outside Caracas prisons El Helicoide and El Rodeo for confirmation of names as longstanding allegations of mistreatment and torture persisted.
- After a U.S. call referencing Venezuela’s move, Nicaragua said it freed dozens of prisoners, while Washington urged U.S. citizens to leave Venezuela and the president signed a decree to protect Venezuelan assets in the United States.