Delcy Rodriguez Releases Political Prisoners Amid US Talks

Venezuelan authorities released dozens of political prisoners early on Saturday morning, including Wilder Vasquez, who was sentenced to five years in 2018 for alleged plots against former President Nicolás Maduro. This release follows a meeting between Delcy Rodriguez, the interim leader, and US President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly.

Rights group Foro Penal confirmed a significant number of detainees were released, but the government did not clarify if these were concessions made during talks with Washington. Rodriguez's interim administration had promised to release political prisoners to gain support and sanction relief from the US after Maduro's capture earlier this year.

However, the initiative slowed in April when Rodriguez announced it was ending, leaving many detainees still imprisoned. Critics argue that the US is backing a figure from Maduro's regime instead of supporting genuine democratic change, as Rodriguez failed to provide a timeline for elections in her speech at the UN.