Overview
- National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said the government ordered a unilateral release of a large number of Venezuelan and foreign detainees, without providing a total.
- Human-rights NGO Foro Penal reported only nine confirmed releases and estimates roughly 800 people remain jailed for political reasons.
- Named among those freed were former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez and activist Rocío San Miguel, with Spain’s foreign minister saying five Spanish nationals were released and San Miguel’s lawyer reporting she is well.
- Opposition figures and families denounced the move as opaque and insufficient, with María Corina Machado insisting there can be no transition while political prisoners remain jailed.
- The announcement followed reports of a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, a developing claim in these articles, as taz also quoted a White House deputy spokeswoman crediting President Trump’s influence.