There was a sense of letdown in Caracas on Friday as only a small number of inmates were released from prisons like Heilcoide, despite a promise from a high-ranking regime official that a “significant” group would regain their freedom.
Jorge Rodriguez, the Chavista president of the National Assembly and elder sibling of acting president Delcy Rodriguez, had declared the releases as a goodwill gesture earlier that day.
By Friday afternoon, Foro Penal, an NGO advocating for political prisoners in Venezuela, reported that only nine individuals had been set free, leaving 811 still incarcerated.
Initial reports had suggested that Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent opposition figure currently detained by the regime, would be among those released. However, this anticipated liberation did not come to pass.
Family and friends of detainees, including Guanipa’s childhood friend Luz Urdaneta in Calgary, expressed frustration and sorrow over the situation.
Guanipa was arrested last May for his involvement in the election campaign of opposition candidates Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado. He previously served as the governor of Zulia state and as the vice-president of the National Assembly.
While the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Guanipa’s arrest as “unjustified and arbitrary” and pledged support for democracy restoration and the release of political prisoners, a shift in the Trump administration’s stance post the capture of Nicolás Maduro has raised doubts about the immediate release of detainees.
Despite earlier promises, the administration now appears focused on a phased approach to stabilizing Venezuela before addressing prisoner releases and democratic recovery. This delay has left many questioning the motives and actions of the U.S. government.
Critics argue that the administration’s emphasis on Venezuela’s resources rather than democratic values raises concerns about its priorities. The uncertainty surrounding the fate of political prisoners and the pace of democratic reforms has left many Venezuelans disillusioned with the current situation.
While some welcome foreign intervention as a means to combat the oppressive regime, others caution against external dominance, citing historical foreign influences in Venezuela’s affairs.
The delay in releasing prisoners, as highlighted by specific cases like Oswaldo Garcia Palomo, has triggered disappointment and confusion among families awaiting the return of their loved ones. The mixed signals from the Trump administration have further fueled skepticism about its commitment to democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
