Venezuela frees several detained American citizens

ANKARA

The US State Department said Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim government has freed several detained American citizens.

This marks the first known release of American detainees since US forces captured former President Nicolas Maduro in a military operation earlier this month.

State Department officials reportedly traveled to Venezuela to facilitate the releases, though authorities did not disclose the exact number of Americans freed.

The move comes amid broader prisoner releases announced by Venezuela’s interim leadership under acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said last week that a significant number of Venezuelan and foreign prisoners would be freed as a gesture toward peace.

Rights groups have criticized the process as slow and lacking transparency.

According to Foro Penal, a prominent Venezuelan human rights organization that monitors political prisoners, Venezuela held around 1,000 political detainees, many arrested in connection with protests over the disputed 2024 presidential election or for opposing the government.

Caracas has also released other foreign nationals, including several Spanish citizens.

Unlike a prisoner swap last summer, when Venezuela freed 10 Americans in exchange for the repatriation of deported Venezuelans held in El Salvador, the latest releases appear tied to broader diplomatic pressure following the US intervention rather than a direct exchange.