The Venezuelan government has started releasing detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups, in what officials described as a goodwill gesture. Hundreds of political prisoners are detained in Venezuelan prisons, with only a handful thought to have been released so far. Her arrest shocked human rights activists and, because her whereabouts were unknown, was labelled as potential "enforced disappearance" by the UN Human Rights Office. Venezuelan human rights organisations - some of which have members or their founders in jail - welcomed the news with caution. Attorney General Tarek Saab and others in the government repeatedly denied Venezuela held political prisoners, arguing those detained were arrested for genuine crimes.

Source: The Star January 11, 2026 09:03 UTC