Venezuela’s top lawmaker, Jorge Rodriguez, announced that more than 400 prisoners have been released from detention, contradicting rights groups’ claims that only 60 to 70 people were freed in recent days.

The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions following the January 3 abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces and ongoing international calls for the release of political prisoners.

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Lawmaker Confirms Mass Prisoner Release

During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National Assembly, stated that the prisoners released were not political prisoners per se but included politicians who had broken the law or allegedly called for invasion and violated the Venezuelan Constitution.

“The decision to release some prisoners, not political prisoners, but some politicians who had broken the law and violated the Constitution, people who called for invasion, was granted,” Rodriguez said.

He did not provide a specific timeline for the releases but claimed that more than 400 individuals had been freed.

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US Citizens Among Those Released

The news agency AFP reported that US citizens were included among those released, prompting a response from a US State Department official:

“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela. This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities,” the official said.

Both Rodriguez and President Donald Trump have framed the mass release as a peace gesture following Maduro’s abduction earlier this month.

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Discrepancies With Human Rights Groups

Human rights organizations have long criticized Venezuela’s record on political imprisonment. Estimates suggest 800 to 1,200 political prisoners remain in Venezuelan custody.

Rights groups have argued that the number of prisoners released since last week is closer to 60–70, denouncing the slow pace and lack of transparency in the government’s announcements.

The Ministry of Penitentiary Services confirmed that at least 116 prisoners were released on Monday, further highlighting discrepancies in reported numbers.

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Opposition Leaders Advocate Prisoner Freedoms

Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has been a prominent voice advocating for the release of political prisoners, many of whom are her allies. She is expected to meet with President Trump in Washington, DC, this Thursday to discuss further steps.

Meanwhile, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez plans to send an envoy to the US capital on the same day to meet senior officials, according to Bloomberg News.

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US Control Over Venezuelan Oil

In parallel with prisoner releases, the US government continues to assert control over Venezuela’s oil resources. Since the abduction of Maduro, the US has:

• Filed court warrants to seize dozens of tanker vessels linked to the Venezuelan oil trade.
• Taken control of five vessels in international waters, either transporting or previously transporting Venezuelan oil.
• Imposed a naval blockade in December 2025, which severely restricted Venezuela’s oil exports.

Shipments have resumed under US supervision, and the administration has indicated intentions to control Venezuela’s oil resources indefinitely, further escalating tensions in the region.

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Political and Humanitarian Implications

The release of prisoners and US control over Venezuelan oil highlight the ongoing political crisis and humanitarian concerns in the country. International rights groups continue to call for transparency, the release of all political prisoners, and protection of civil liberties.

Observers warn that while the release of hundreds of prisoners may signal progress, significant questions remain regarding the total number of detainees, human rights conditions, and political motivations behind the mass releases.