Venezuela's top lawmaker says more than 400 prisoners have been released

"The announcement contradicts claims from local rights groups that no more than 70 prisoners have been freed in recent days. Venezuela's top lawmaker says more than 400 people have been freed from prison, contradicting claims from rights groups that only between 60 to 70 prisoners have been released in recent days, amid calls for freeing those imprisoned for political reasons. Jorge Rodriguez, the president of the National Assembly, made the announcement during a parliamentary session on Tuesday."

"The Venezuelan government has always denied that it holds people for political reasons and has said it has already released most of the 2,000 people detained after protests over the contested 2024 presidential election. Human rights groups estimated there are 800 to 1,200 political prisoners in Venezuela and have said that the number of prisoners freed since last week ranges between 60 and 70, and have denounced the slow pace and lack of information surrounding the releases."

Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, announced that more than 400 people have been released from prison but did not provide a specific timeline. Rights groups estimate only 60–70 prisoners were freed in recent days and place the total number of political prisoners at 800–1,200. The government denies holding people for political reasons and says it has released most of roughly 2,000 detainees from post‑election protests. Venezuela's Ministry of Penitentiary Services reported at least 116 released on Monday. Bloomberg reported at least one US citizen was released. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has demanded further releases.

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