On August 24, 2025, Venezuelan authorities released a group of 13 political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures such as Américo De Grazia and Pedro Guanipa. Some detainees were fully freed, while others were placed under house arrest. The releases occurred amid escalating pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Nicolás Maduro's socialist regime. Reports indicate that the move may be linked to backchannel negotiations between the Venezuelan government and opposition factions. Despite the releases, human rights groups and opposition leaders emphasize that repression continues, with at least 1,000 political detainees reportedly still held in Venezuela. Additionally, on August 26 and 27, five Colombian detainees, including four signatories of the FARC peace agreement, were freed after being held at the Venezuela-Colombia border since mid-August. The case of Perkins Rocha, a Venezuelan opposition legal advisor detained for a year without communication with family or legal counsel, remains a focal point for calls demanding his immediate release. Opposition figures and international organizations continue to urge Nicolás Maduro to free all political prisoners. The developments come amid heightened tensions and diplomatic confrontations between the U.S. and Venezuela, with opposition leader Juan Guaidó criticizing Maduro's governance and warning of Venezuela's inability to defend its territory.
La esposa del opositor venezolano Perkins Rocha denuncia que cumple un año preso y aislado: “no lo hemos visto ni lo hemos escuchado” https://t.co/6yBRHmKBw9
#CNNChileRadio | [Entrevista] “Maduro sabe que no tiene cómo defender”: Juan Guaidó y crecientes tensiones entre Venezuela y Estados Unidos https://t.co/IVG18CblN7
ÚLTIMA HORA | Familiares de Brayan Navarro, preso político colombiano detenido en Venezuela, marcharon en el departamento de Cesar por su liberación https://t.co/kE4f4EYBcm https://t.co/1d7IdRiQI9