Venezuela releases 116 prisoners in new wave following political crisis

The Venezuelan government has freed 116 individuals detained for crimes against the constitutional order. This new wave of prisoner releases comes in the wake of the dramatic capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by US forces and the swearing-in of an interim leader.
Venezuela's Penitentiary Services Ministry confirmed on Monday the release of 116 prisoners, marking the second such large-scale action in recent weeks. The ministry stated that those freed had been incarcerated for acts "related to disrupting the constitutional order and threatening the stability of the nation."
Context of the Releases
This latest move follows the release of 187 detainees under similar criteria in December 2024. The prisoner releases have unfolded against a backdrop of severe political crisis and direct foreign intervention in the South American country.
Triggering Event: US Military Operation
The recent decisions are set against the dramatic events of January 3, when US military forces conducted an operation on Venezuelan soil, capturing then-President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following this unprecedented intervention, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was swiftly sworn in as the nation's interim president.
International and Domestic Reactions
US President Donald Trump commented on the situation over the weekend, welcoming the initial steps taken by Venezuelan authorities regarding prisoner releases. The developments present a complex picture of shifting power dynamics and humanitarian gestures in a nation long plagued by political turmoil and international contention.
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