Venezuela Releases 131 Political Prisoners Amid US-Brokered Talks

The interim government of Venezuela released 131 political prisoners on Friday under the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence. The group included several women and an individual previously accused of plotting to assassinate former President Nicolas Maduro. These releases occurred during US-brokered reconciliation talks between the government and opposition leaders.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the move was a crucial step for the nation's reconciliation process. He noted that 1,046 Venezuelans have been freed since US forces removed and detained Maduro on January 3, 2026. While the government reported 131 releases, the Vente Venezuela movement and the rights group Foro Penal provided lower verified numbers.

Negotiations are currently led by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez and opposition leader Dinorah Figuera. Recent discussions have focused on judicial reform and the retrieval of frozen funds to aid recovery from devastating earthquakes in June. Despite the prisoner releases, the official joint statement from the talks did not explicitly address the issue of political prisoners.