The brother of Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, and head of the country’s national assembly has announced the release of a wide raft of political prisoners. It's being viewed as a gesture to seek peace less than a week after the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces.

Cúcuta

The Venezuelan government has begun releasing a significant number of political prisoners, including both Venezuelan and foreign nationals. This move comes amid suggestions that U.S. leverage over the new administration may be prompting major concessions. Families of detainees gathered outside prisons in Caracas and at the Colombia-Venezuela border, hoping for news of their relatives' release.

Human rights groups estimate that over 800 political prisoners remain in Venezuelan jails, with some held for more than a decade. While a handful of prisoners, including five Spanish nationals, have been freed so far, it remains unclear if these releases signal lasting political change, as similar actions have occurred in the past following periods of repression.

Venezuela releases political prisoners

The government of Venezuela announced the release of an important number of political prisoners on Thursday, the first sign that the U.S. leverage over the new administration could lead to change in major concessions. The Bolivarian government, together with state institutions, has decided to release a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign nationals. These releases are taking place as we speak. Family members gathered outside prisons in Caracas, waiting anxiously for news, under heavy police presence. I am the mother of Juan Jose Fretes. He is the coordinator of the Vente Venezuela political party and is part of Maria Ocorrina Machado's team. He has been detained for two years. Human rights groups estimate there are more than 800 political prisoners in Venezuelan jails, both national and international. Some have been detained for over a decade. President Trump has accused Maduro's government of killing and torturing detainees. But he's a violent guy and he's killed millions of people. He's tortured. They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas that they're closing up. He's talking about the Helicoide, a building built as a futuristic shopping mall in the 1950s, but which has ended up as a notorious jail. Police, inmates and human rights organizations say that beatings, electric shocks and sexual violence have all gone on. On the border bridge between Colombia and Venezuela, a group of families also gathered in search of news. Miriam Algorita says she hasn't heard from her son in 10 years. I used to cry out of sadness and despair. Today I'm crying with joy because I'm sure that my son will be released, because he's innocent. He was falsely accused of terrorism, but thank God he's with us and he will be home soon. So far, only a handful of prisoners have been freed, including five Spanish nationals. Venezuelans have seen this before, repression followed by some concessions, leaving open the question whether this marks real political change. Alessandro Rampietti, Al Jazeera, Cucuta.

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Washington

Venezuela Strikes

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Trump: U.S. to hit Iran 'very hard' if violence continues at protests

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia fires hypersonic missile at Ukraine target near NATO border

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Brussels

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Trump admin. withdraws from dozens of international organizations

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Portland

Two shot by border patrol agents in Portland

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Odesa

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Tehran

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Caracas

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Texas

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UK helped the U.S. seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela

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Los Angeles

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Minneapolis

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Breakdown