A human rights group said more than 100 political prisoners were freed as releases continued across Venezuela. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday she had “had enough” of what she called orders from Washington, rejecting US pressure following recent strikes and the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro.

The government of Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after leftist president Nicolas Maduro was captured by US special forces early this month, has promised to release a "large number" of the hundreds of Maduro opponents languishing in prison.

In an address

In an address Sunday to oil worker's in Venezuela's eastern state of Anzoategui, Rodriguez struck a confident tone.

"Enough orders from Washington on politicians in Venezuela. Let Venezuelan politics resolve our differences and internal conflicts. Enough of foreign powers," Rodriguez said. 

"It has cost this republic dearly to have to face the consequences of fascism, of extremism in our country."

Venezuela frees more political prisoners, Rodriguez pushes back on US pressure

Authorities in Caracas say they have freed 626 detainees since December, but Foro Penal has only recorded about half as many releases in that time.

Venezuela's political opposition and human rights groups have criticised the slow unfolding of the process.

26 minutes ago, bannork said:

A human rights group said more than 100 political prisoners were freed as releases continued across Venezuela.

This is a step in the right direction.

NEW YORK, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence reports have raised doubts about whether interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez will cooperate with the Trump administration by formally cutting ties with U.S. adversaries, four people familiar with the reports said in recent days.

U.S. officials have said publicly they want the interim president to sever relations with close international allies like Iran, China and Russia, including expelling their diplomats and advisers from Venezuela.

But Rodriguez, whose swearing-in ceremony was attended by representatives of those countries early this month, has yet to publicly announce such a move. She became president after the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.

Exclusive - US intelligence raises doubts about Venezuela leader's cooperation

For Venezuela, the U.S. directive means abandoning its closest allies outside the region. Iran has helped Venezuela repair oil refineries while China has taken oil as repayment for debt. Russia has supplied weaponry, including missiles, to Venezuela's military.

Go get that oil please Mr Trump and flood the world markets asap, such as to reduce the prices. Prices that are globally skyrocketing due to the absurd sanctions against the cheap russian oil and gas, that previously were making the entire world and Europe prosper. Just for a corrupt country like Ukraine, the entire world has to pay the price due to the russian sanctions ? Show me one single country with whom we deal with, that is squeeky clean ?? None.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Wednesday criticized the new leadership in Venezuela following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"No one has faith in [interim President] Delcy Rodríguez," Machado told journalists in Washington. "Everybody knows what this regime is all about. We're talking about criminals."

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado leads a demonstration against the re-inauguration of authoritarian President Maduro this Friday. Jesus Vargas/dpa© DPA International

When asked by a journalist whether she would be prepared to share power with Rodríguez in a transitional government, Machado replied: "We are working to enable a real transition. This is not a Russia-like transition, where the mafia remains in power and ultimately the citizens suffer."

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate said she would continue to work for real change – and not for part of the ruling apparatus to remain in power.

Venezuelan opposition leader: No one has faith in interim president

On 1/28/2026 at 6:11 PM, SingAPorn said:

Go get that oil please Mr Trump and flood the world markets asap, such as to reduce the prices. Prices that are globally skyrocketing due to the absurd sanctions against the cheap russian oil and gas, that previously were making the entire world and Europe prosper. Just for a corrupt country like Ukraine, the entire world has to pay the price due to the russian sanctions ? Show me one single country with whom we deal with, that is squeeky clean ?? None.

Lol! It's Trump who's been preventing Venezuela from producing and exporting more oil! 🤣🤣🤣

https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/022625-trump-reverses-2022-license-authorizing-chevron-oil-operations-in-venezuela

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-revoke-authorizations-foreign-partners-venezuelas-pdvsa-sources-say-2025-03-29/

Senator Jeanne Shaheen pressed Marco Rubio over the fate of $200m from the sale of Venezuelan oil on Wednesday, 28 January.

The Secretary of State testified in the Senate about Donald Trump's next steps in his Venezuela policy after the capture of its longtime leader Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Rubio was asked about how the US is planning to handle the sale of tens of millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela, which has the largest proven reserves of crude in the world, and oversee where the money flows.

Rubio grilled on whereabouts of $200m from sale of Venezuelan oil

On 1/29/2026 at 2:36 PM, candide said:

Lol! It's Trump who's been preventing Venezuela from producing and exporting more oil! 🤣🤣🤣

https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/crude-oil/022625-trump-reverses-2022-license-authorizing-chevron-oil-operations-in-venezuela

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-revoke-authorizations-foreign-partners-venezuelas-pdvsa-sources-say-2025-03-29/

yes but as from today, the private firms are pumping the oil in Venezuela and starting to flood the world markets, as there is a risk of a crisis and blocade in the Ormuz detroit, from where all the oil from the major producers does transit. The rest is in the hands of the markets reactions and how much speculation will there be as to avoid escalation of the prices. Maybe it's also time to consider stopping those sanctions against the commies in Russia and get back that dead cheap russian gas and oil in the global markets ?