Venezuela has announced the release of 99 political prisoners who were detained after last year's post-election protests.

Venezuela has declared that it has carried out the largest release of political prisoners this year, freeing 99 individuals detained for participating in protests after the 2024 elections, which many consider to have been stolen by dictator Nicolás Maduro. The Maduro regime has attempted to present this action as a sign of its commitment to human rights, in the context of increasing military pressures from the United States. Civil organizations have reacted cautiously, emphasizing that the releases are insufficient, given that approximately 900 political prisoners remain in the country.

Additionally, the regime refuses to acknowledge the existence of political prisoners and has stated that the releases took place on the morning of Christmas Day. In recent weeks, Venezuela has been subjected to increasing internal repression, and opposition leaders have largely been arrested or in exile. For example, opposition leader María Corina Machado is temporarily in exile, and a teenager has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for participating in protests. Non-governmental organizations have stated that the selective nature of the releases confirms the use of deprivation of liberty as a tool of political persecution. Although the measure has had a positive impact on those released, it is considered insufficient, given the large number of political prisoners remaining.