Political Prisoner Release “Trickle” Sparks Outcry in Post-Maduro Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuela – January 12, 2026
Political Prisoner Release “Trickle” Sparks Outcry in Post-Maduro Venezuela – One week after the dramatic U.S. military operation “Absolute Resolve” that resulted in the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela remains in a state of profound legal and social suspension.
While the interim government, led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, has officially announced the release of 116 political prisoners, human rights organizations and families of the detained are decrying the move as a “strategic trickle” rather than a true restoration of justice.
As of January 12,2026, the notorious “El Helicoide” and other detention centers still hold hundreds of activists, students, and military officers who were jailed for their opposition to the former regime.
The “Absolute Resolve” Aftermath
The capture of Maduro on January 3, 2026, by over 200 U.S. Special Operations Forces—supported by a massive air campaign involving 150 aircraft—did not immediately lead to the collapse of the Venezuelan state apparatus.
Instead, a complex transition is underway. The United States, with President Donald Trump asserting that the U.S. is “running” Venezuela to ensure a “proper transition,” has placed immense pressure on the remaining leadership in Caracas to clear the prisons of “prisoners of conscience.”
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, navigating a precarious path between loyalty to the old guard and the reality of U.S. military presence, authorized the first wave of releases last Thursday.
However, the NGO Foro Penal reports that only 41 individuals had been verified as freed by Monday morning, with the government’s figure of 116 being met with skepticism.
Among those released are high-profile figures like former presidential candidate Enrique Márquez and journalist Biagio Pilieri, as well as two Italian nationals whose freedom was personally negotiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Tragedy Behind Bars: The Death of Edilson Torres
The slow pace of the releases has taken a tragic turn. On Saturday, January 10, Edilson Torres, a 52-year-old police officer detained since December 2025 for social media posts critical of the regime, died of a heart attack in custody.
His death has become a rallying cry for the thousands of families camped outside prison gates.
Rights activists argue that for many of the estimated 800 to 1,200 political prisoners, the wait for a “bureaucratic review” is a death sentence.
“We are seeing a bargaining chip strategy,” says Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal.
“The government is releasing prisoners in small batches to manage international pressure and maintain leverage in negotiations with Washington.”
Reports of torture and cruel treatment inside El Helicoide continue to emerge, with released prisoners describing “cages of despair” where medical care is non-existent and psychological abuse is routine.
The Shadow of the Colectivos
The streets of Caracas tell a story of parallel power. While U.S. forces focus on securing strategic infrastructure and the “protection” of the transition, pro-regime paramilitaries known as colectivos have been seen setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for “supporters of the U.S. raid.”
This internal friction has created a “state of external commotion,” where citizens are caught between the hope of a post-Maduro era and the reality of a still-active repressive apparatus.
President Trump has celebrated the initial releases on Truth Social, stating, “I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.” However, for Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado and the unified opposition, the mission is far from over.
Machado has vowed to continue the struggle until every single prisoner—including the hundreds arrested in the frantic hours following the January 3rd raid—is returned to their families.
Philosophical Reflection: The Prison of the Ego
From the detention of these individuals is the ultimate attempt by an authoritarian “Self” to extinguish the “Transcendent Ego” of a nation.
The prison walls of El Helicoide are not just physical barriers; they are manifestations of a leadership governance model that seeks to isolate and silence the collective voice.
The release of these prisoners is more than a legal act; it is the beginning of a philosophical deconstruction of the “Old Venezuela,” a necessary step toward the discovery of a new, sovereign identity.
Key Headline Points:
• Conflicting Figures: Government claims 116 released; human rights groups verify fewer than 50 so far.
• Custodial Death: The heart attack death of Edilson Torres sparks protests over slow release times.
• U.S. Control: President Trump claims the U.S. is “running” the transition to ensure oil interests and stability.
• Colectivo Resistance: Pro-Maduro paramilitaries continue to terrorize neighborhoods despite the leader’s capture.
