Foro Penal Director Says 104 Political Prisoners Released

Foro Penal director Alfredo Romero said on X that at least 104 people considered political prisoners were released on Sunday from prisons across Venezuela as part of an ongoing release process.

The reported releases follow what U.S. officials and court records say was the U.S. seizure and transfer of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to New York to face drug‑trafficking charges earlier this month, according to U.S. officials and court records.

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Jan. 23 she is due to speak on Monday with U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to ask the U.N. to verify lists of those released, her office said.

Official counts differ, with Foro Penal confirming 156 political prisoner releases since Jan. 8 while Interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Jan. 23 that 626 people have been released, a discrepancy marked by conflicting tallies.

Foro Penal said it is still verifying identities of the newly freed and called on the government to publish lists of those released, and Romero said more releases were likely, his post on X said.