Venezuela freed eight political prisoners and transferred another five to house arrest on Sunday, opposition leader Henrique Capriles said. Those released include Américo De Grazia, an ally of banned opposition figure María Corina Machado, while Pedro Guanipa, brother of a jailed opposition deputy, was placed under house arrest. Rights group Foro Penal said 815 political detainees remained behind bars as of 21 August. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. Washington has deployed three U.S. Navy ships carrying about 4,000 sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean, doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, and denied drilling approvals sought by European energy companies including Repsol, Eni and Maurel & Prom, although Chevron was recently allowed to resume crude extraction. U.S. and Venezuelan officials did not immediately comment on whether the latest releases were negotiated with Washington. Last month Caracas exchanged 10 U.S. nationals and dozens of Venezuelan prisoners for 250 Venezuelan migrants held in El Salvador, signaling that prisoner releases remain a bargaining chip as Maduro faces growing external and domestic pressure.