The United States has urged Venezuela to release the remaining political prisoners held in the South American nation. Over 1,000 political detainees have been freed since US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a military raid in Caracas on 3 January and brought him to New York to face trial on drug-trafficking and torture charges. However, the Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal reports that 322 individuals remain behind bars.
Diplomatic Meetings and Electoral Reforms
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Venezuelan counterpart, Oliver Blanco, to press for the release of the remaining detainees. According to the US state department, the two officials also discussed reforms designed to establish the foundation for free, fair, and credible elections. The liberation of political prisoners has been a long-standing demand of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 and returned to the country on 25 October following nearly a year in exile.
Numerous prisoners were detained following the disputed 2024 presidential election. Although government loyalists on the National Electoral Council declared Nicolás Maduro the victor, voting tallies gathered by the opposition and verified by independent media indicated an opposition victory. The Carter Center, which deployed independent observers, stated that the election could not be considered democratic, while a UN fact-finding mission reported subsequent severe government repression against perceived political opponents and critics.
Transition Plans and Upcoming Elections
Following Maduro’s capture, loyal vice-president Delcy Rodríguez assumed office as interim president with the backing of the Trump administration. Despite this support, domestic opposition parties have voiced frustration over the slow progress of reforms. The US state department reiterated its commitment to President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan focused on stabilization, economic recovery, political reconciliation, and democratic transition.
Marco Rubio previously stated that Venezuela’s election infrastructure must be replaced quickly for upcoming votes to be valid. In a subsequent televised address, Rodríguez assured citizens that elections will take place under a renewed electoral authority, though she omitted any timeline. Conversely, Machado has advocated for elections to be held within the next year, having previously proposed July 24, 2027, to coincide with the birth anniversary of independence hero Simón Bolívar.
