Venezuela: Political prisoners expected to be released in response to Trump's demands
Venezuelans are living in a state of cautious anticipation, awaiting the release of another group of political prisoners by authorities in Caracas, a move seen as a direct response to escalating US pressure. This development comes after US President Donald Trump announced on Friday the cancellation of a second planned military strike against Venezuela, attributing his decision to the Venezuelan government's release of a number of detainees.
Despite official Venezuelan announcements promising the release of large numbers of detainees, the reality on the ground, according to human rights activists and relatives of those detained, indicates that no more than 20 people have been freed so far. The Venezuelan government is attempting to portray this move as a "goodwill gesture" to promote internal peace, while Washington maintains that these actions are a direct result of its military and political intervention, which included targeted operations and airstrikes, culminating in the deployment of special forces and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd.
Maduro's fate and the trials in New York
Amid these rapidly unfolding events, the future of Venezuela's former leadership remains shrouded in uncertainty. Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently imprisoned in a federal jail in Brooklyn, New York. The couple appeared in a U.S. court last Monday, pleading not guilty to charges including drug trafficking, and are awaiting their next hearing scheduled for March 17. In an attempt to reassure his supporters, the ruling party released a video purportedly showing Maduro's son conveying a message from his father, asserting that he is "fine" and that they are "fighting.".
The suffering of families and ongoing sit-ins
On the humanitarian front, the tragedy continues for the families of detainees who are holding open-ended sit-ins day and night in front of notorious detention centers, such as the intelligence services' El Helicoid prison and El Rodeo 1 prison in eastern Caracas. Field reports have documented poignant scenes of relatives lighting candles and holding signs bearing their loved ones' names, organizing a "rotation system" to ensure a constant presence at the prison gates, hoping for any news of their loved ones.
These moves come amid growing human rights concerns, particularly following the death of police officer Edison Jose Torres Fernandez, 52, in custody last Saturday. He had been arrested on charges of treason for posting messages critical of the regime. This incident highlights the harsh conditions inside Venezuelan prisons, where human rights organizations report that approximately 18 political prisoners have died in detention centers since 2014.
Background of the crisis and its effects
The issue of political prisoners in Venezuela is of paramount importance both domestically and internationally, serving as one of the key points used by the international community to justify sanctions against Caracas. Opposition and NGO statistics indicate that there are between 800 and 1,200 political prisoners, of whom only 21 were released in the latest wave of arrests. The protests that erupted following Maduro's declared victory in the 2024 elections resulted in the arrest of approximately 2,400 people, most of whom were later released. However, the continued detention of prominent activists remains a major obstacle to any comprehensive political settlement in the country, which is grappling with severe economic and social crises.
