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Foro Penal, an NGO dedicated to the defense of political prisoners in Venezuela, reported this Sunday that it has verified at least 266 new releases in recent hours.
The announcement comes amid the release process announced by the government of interim president Delcy Rodríguez on January 8.
"January 26, 9:00 AM (Venezuela). 266 releases of political prisoners verified by Foro Penal," posted on X by the president of Foro Penal, Alfredo Romero.
According to EFE, among those released is the volunteer lawyer from Foro Penal, Kenny Tejeda Jiménez, who has been detained since August 2024 while providing legal assistance to citizens at a Bolivarian National Guard command.
Carla Da Silva, who was accused in 2020 of the failed maritime incursion attempt known as "Operation Gedeón," was also released.
The National Union of Press Workers also confirmed the release of journalism student Juan Francisco Alvarado, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison. His sentence was annulled this week by an appeals court.
Family members and activists celebrated the releases with applause and shouts of "freedom" outside the El Rodeo I prison in the state of Miranda.
"There is a light, a hope. That someone has emerged from the Gideon case filled us with joy," said Massiel Cordones, mother of Lieutenant José Ángel Barreno, who is still detained, to EFE.
Margareth Baduel, sister of political prisoner Josnars Baduel, expressed her happiness for the releases, although she reminded that they continue to demand "full freedom" for all those detained.
The release process was announced on January 8 by the President of the Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, who mentioned a "significant number" of releases without specifying identities or conditions.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez assured on Friday that 626 people have already been released across the country.
Foro Penal had confirmed 156 by Friday, while the Democratic Unity Platform, which groups the opposition, reported a total of 173.
The releases occur in a political context marked by the transition following Nicolás Maduro's detention and the reconfiguration of power in Venezuela under international supervision.
Analysts believe that these measures aim to send signals of de-escalation and create space for a political negotiation that stabilizes the country after years of repression.
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