{"id":2531581,"date":"2026-01-08T16:19:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuela-commits-to-releasing-political-prisoners\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:22:07","slug":"venezuela-commits-to-releasing-political-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/venezuela-commits-to-releasing-political-prisoners\/","title":{"rendered":"Venezuela commits to releasing political prisoners"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvenezuela-commits-to-releasing-political-prisoners%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531581&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Venezuelan government announced it will free an &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-derek-chauvin-trial-coverage-to-ninth-day\/\" title=\"The Derek Chauvin Trial \u2013 Coverage to Ninth Day\">important number<\/a>&#8221; of political prisoners, with Jorge Rodr\u00edguez &#8211; head of the legislature and brother of acting President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez &#8211; saying releases were underway &#8220;from this very moment.&#8221; Human rights groups estimate more than 800 political prisoners remain in Venezuela, including about 40 foreign nationals (roughly 20 Spaniards and five U.S. citizens); the government has not said how many will be freed now. Spain reported five Spanish nationals are being released and assisted by its embassy; one high-profile U.S. detainee of interest is 28-year-old James Luckey-Lange. Caracas had already released about 200 prisoners between December and new Year&#8217;s Day, and the move follows a series of concessions to the U.S. after a recent raid that led to the arrest of former leader Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, including an oil deal giving the U.S. a role in deciding buyers. President Trump suggested othre human-rights reforms &#8211; including potentially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/are-covid-case-surges-more-fake-news\/\" title=\"Are COVID Case Surges More Fake News?\">closing<\/a> the Helicoide detention center &#8211; while officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio say Washington is prioritizing stability and recovery before changes in power.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Venezuela commits to releasing &lsquo;important number&rsquo; of political prisoners<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2467114\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\">Venezuelan<\/a> government on Thursday committed to releasing an &ldquo;important number&rdquo; of political prisoners, in its latest concession to the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Jorge Rodriguez, brother of acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez and head of Venezuela&rsquo;s legislature, announced the release of political prisoners. He told reporters that the releases were happening &ldquo;from this very moment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4410930\/time-trump-recognize-somaliland\/\">It&#8217;s time for Trump to recognize Somaliland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4411069\/iran-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell\/\">Iran reportedly cuts internet as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-reportedly-cuts-internet-as-anti-government-protests-swell-what-to-know\/\" title=\"Iran reportedly cuts internet as anti-... protests swell: What to know\">anti-government protests swell<\/a>: What to know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4410336\/saudi-allied-government-yemen-seizes-uae-backed-territory\/\">Saudi-allied government in Yemen seizes all UAE-backed territory in lightning offensive<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;In order to contribute and collaborate in the effort that all of us must make for national unity and peaceful coexistence, the Bolivarian government, together with the institutions of the state, has decided to free an important number of Venezuelan and foreign individuals,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Constitutional Assembly President Delcy Rodriguez, and her brother, Minister of Communications Jorge Rodriguez, center right,<br \/>flanked by diplomat Roy Chaderton, left, and former Vice President Elias Jaua, pose for a photo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Dec. 1, 2017. (AP Photo\/Tatiana Fernandez, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Consider this gesture by the Bolivarian government, with its broad intention of seeking peace, as the contribution that all of us must make so that our republic can continue its life in peace and in pursuit of prosperity,&rdquo; Rodriguez added.<\/p>\n<p>Human rights groups estimate that over 800 political prisoners are being held in Venezuela as of Thursday, with 40 of those being foreign nationals. The foreign nationals include roughly 20 Spaniards and five U.S. citizens. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-has-long-planned-to-take-away-your-health-coverage\/\" title=\"Kamala Has Long Planned To Take Away Your Health Coverage\">government didn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t immediately reveal how many prisoners would be released as part of the current move.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the State Department for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Caracas had already <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >begun releasing political prisoners ahead<\/a> of Saturday&rsquo;s raid that saw the arrest of former Venezuelan dictator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a>, releasing around 200 from December to New Year&rsquo;s Day, the <em>New York Times<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/01\/world\/americas\/venezuela-prisoner-release.html\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Spanish foreign ministry announced the release of &ldquo;five Spanish nationals, one of them a citizen with dual nationality, who are preparing to travel to Spain with assistance from our embassy in Caracas,&rdquo; on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Spain, which maintains fraternal relations with the Venezuelan people, views this decision as a positive step in the new phase Venezuela is entering,&rdquo; it added.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. citizen of most interest is James Luckey-Lange, 28, a traveller captured in December who was being held at a military counterintelligence headquarters in Caracas.<\/p>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> also hinted at other human rights reforms. On Tuesday, he alluded to the closing down of the Helicoide de la Roca Tarpeya, a former shopping center turned into a prison and torture center under the socialist government.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4410587\/trump-venezuela-us-products-money-oil-deal\/\">TRUMP SAYS VENEZUELA WILL BUY US PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVELY USING MONEY FROM OIL DEAL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The move is just the latest of several that indicate a major change in stance from Caracas after initial defiance following Saturday&rsquo;s raid. After a conciliatory statement released on Sunday, the Rodriguez government has made several concessions to the U.S., including an oil deal that allows the U.S. to decide to whom the oil gets sold.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\">Marco Rubio<\/a> said Washington was prioritizing stability and recovery before a change in power as part of its next steps for Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Venezuela to release many political prisoners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2531582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26006702889717.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3712,36930,48914,50813],"class_list":["post-2531581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-amnesty","tag-human-rights","tag-political-prisoners","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26006702889717.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531581"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531586,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531581\/revisions\/2531586"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}