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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, described the release of a significant number of political prisoners in Venezuela as "a very important and smart gesture," a decision made by the interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez following the capture of the dictator Nicolás Maduro.
Through a message posted on Truth Social, Trump also announced the cancellation of a second wave of military attacks that had been previously planned against the South American country.
“Venezuela is releasing a large number of political prisoners as a show of its 'pursuit of peace'. This is a very important and smart gesture”, Trump wrote in his post.
The American president highlighted this step as a significant advancement in the de-escalation of bilateral tensions, just a few days after U.S. forces captured Maduro, who was facing charges of narcoterrorism.
Since the fall of the Chavista leader, various international organizations, Venezuelan opposition groups, and allied governments have pressed for immediate measures to restore political confidence and address the humanitarian crisis in the country.
The release of political prisoners is considered one of the most urgent and symbolic issues.
Confirmed releases by Venezuelan authorities
Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, officially confirmed the start of the release process.
"The Bolivarian government, alongside state institutions, has decided to release a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign individuals, and these release processes are taking place from this very moment," he announced in a televised speech.
Rodríguez framed the decision as a contribution to the national pacification process
"Consider this gesture of the Bolivarian government, with its broad intention of seeking peace, as the contribution that each and every one of us must make to ensure that our republic continues its peaceful existence and strives for prosperity."
Among the released individuals would be five Spanish citizens, as confirmed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with dozens of Venezuelan prisoners.
The demand for a general amnesty
Despite the gesture, organizations like Foro Penal, which document the situation of human rights in Venezuela, have emphasized that the number of political prisoners is still high. Its director, Alfredo Romero, urged for a broader measure:
“A general amnesty for the freedom of political prisoners would be an important gesture at this time to unify the Venezuelan population, obviously without guaranteeing impunity for crimes against humanity”, Romero posted on X.
According to recent figures from the organization, at least 863 people remain imprisoned or are being pursued for political reasons.
The opposition calls for more actions
The Democratic United Platform, the main opposition coalition in Venezuela, also reacted to the announcement, demanding comprehensive measures to ensure democratic coexistence:
"The release of ALL political prisoners, the cessation of repression, and the disarmament of irregular groups that threaten civil coexistence are urgent actions that require immediate execution, as they depend solely on the orders of those responsible for them," it stated in an official statement.
In later statements, Trump also claimed that the Chavista regime would be shutting down a well-known torture center in Caracas. Although he did not mention it directly, it is believed he was referring to the Helicoide, identified by human rights organizations as the epicenter of systematic abuses.
"They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas that they are shutting down. But it has tortured people," he reported.
Cooperation in the energy sector and cancellation of military attack
In the same message, Trump explained that, as a direct consequence of this cooperation, he had decided to suspend the second wave of planned attacks against Venezuela
"Thanks to this cooperation, I have canceled the second wave of attacks, previously planned, which seems unnecessary. However, all the ships will remain in their positions for safety reasons."
Trump also stated that the United States and Venezuela are closely collaborating on the reconstruction of the country's oil and gas infrastructure
“United States and Venezuela are collaborating effectively, especially in the reconstruction of their oil and gas infrastructure in a much greater, better, and more modern way.”
According to the president, this energy alliance includes investments of more than 100 billion dollars from the world's leading oil companies, known as Big Oil.
"I will meet today at the White House with the top oil executives from around the world," he added.
These actions occur in a context of drastic change for Venezuela, following the military operation on January 3 that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
The interim president Delcy Rodríguez has assumed executive functions and has promised a transition towards a more open and peaceful system.
Conclusion
The release of political prisoners in Venezuela marks a milestone in the beginning of a possible period of détente between Caracas and Washington.
The gesture has been praised by President Donald Trump as a sign of a peaceful intention and has had direct consequences on the military strategy of the United States, which chose to cancel planned attacks and focus on joint reconstruction of the energy sector.
However, voices both inside and outside Venezuela warn that partial liberation is not enough: a broad amnesty and concrete measures are needed to guarantee rights, justice, and democracy in the country.
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