Venezuela’s acting president touts ‘new political moment,’ hints at further release of political prisoners

Interim Venezuela President Delcy Rodríguez announced Wednesday that her authorities volition proceed to merchandise prisoners detained nether the regularisation of erstwhile President Nicolás Maduro successful an inaugural she touted arsenic a "new governmental moment," according to The Associated Press (AP).

Her comments came conscionable days aft the interim government freed astatine slightest 4 U.S. citizens detained successful Venezuela, marking the first known merchandise of American prisoners since Maduro was ousted successful a U.S. subject cognition earlier this month.

During her archetypal property briefing since becoming acting leader, Rodríguez reportedly told journalists successful Caracas that the process of releasing detainees "has not yet concluded," emphasizing that the effort to escaped those held nether Maduro’s regularisation is ongoing. 

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez addresses the media successful Caracas, Venezuela, March 10, 2025.  (Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

The outlet added that perchance 800 prisoners, including governmental leaders, soldiers and lawyers, are inactive being detained, citing Venezuelan quality rights enactment Foro Penal.

Rodriguez besides claimed that her authorities had already released 212 detainees, but quality rights organizations person estimated little figures, The AP added.  

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Nicolás Maduro (C) waves a nationalist emblem connected Jan. 23, 2019, successful Caracas, Venezuela. (Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images)

The Maduro state insisted that the captive releases bash not awesome a interruption from the past and are not the nonstop effect of U.S. pressure, but alternatively credited the effort to the ousted president, The AP reported. She said Maduro oversaw the merchandise of 194 detainees successful December, noting that helium did truthful due to the fact that helium "was reasoning precisely astir opening spaces for understanding, for coexistence, for tolerance," according to the outlet.

While Rodríguez has not provided a elaborate model for determining who volition beryllium released, she said decisions volition reportedly beryllium guided by an valuation of "crimes related to the law order," informing that "messages of hatred, intolerance, acts of unit volition not beryllium permitted."

The existent coordination of these releases volition beryllium handled by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. 

President Donald Trump speaking during an lawsuit successful Rochester, N.H., connected Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.  (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that helium precocious had a "great conversation" with Rodríguez, their archetypal since Maduro was seized and flown to the U.S. to look drug-trafficking charges.  

"We had a call, a agelong call. We discussed a batch of things," Trump said. "And I deliberation we’re getting on precise good with Venezuela."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.