Venezuela releases 39 political prisoners following new round of talks

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 27, 2026

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela has released 39 people classified as political prisoners following a second round of talks between the country’s interim government and opposition representatives, according to human-rights organisation Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP).

The releases took place between Friday and Saturday from several detention facilities across the country. JEP said those freed included eight women who had been accused of “narco-terrorism” and six people accused of involvement with the United States in an alleged 2020 attempt to remove former President Nicolás Maduro.

The development came shortly after a second round of political negotiations involving representatives of interim President Delcy Rodríguez and the opposition. The talks have been conducted with US approval following Maduro’s removal from power in January.

Rights groups call for further releases

Human-rights organisations have welcomed the continued releases while maintaining that hundreds of people remain detained for political reasons.

Foro Penal, which monitors political detentions in Venezuela, reported that 344 people remained classified as political prisoners as of September 18, down from 391 recorded on August 10.

JEP said it would continue monitoring the situation and called for the release of those who remain behind bars.

Earlier reports from EFE indicated that rights groups initially documented between 20 and 30 releases following the latest round of dialogue, with organisations continuing to verify individual cases. JEP later reported that it had verified about 29 releases at that stage.

A broader political transition

The latest releases form part of a wider process that has followed Maduro’s removal from office. Rodríguez’s administration enacted an amnesty law in February, while authorities have announced additional measures involving people held in connection with political cases.

However, international human-rights investigators have cautioned that the reduction in detentions has not necessarily been accompanied by comprehensive institutional reforms. A UN fact-finding mission said earlier this month that Venezuela’s security and intelligence structures remained substantially unchanged.

The latest prisoner releases therefore come amid continuing negotiations over Venezuela’s political future, judicial system and treatment of political detainees.