SAN FRANCISCO DE YARE, Venezuela — Venezuela’s government freed 16 people imprisoned for political reasons over three days following its Thursday pledge to release a significant number of detainees in what officials described as a gesture to “seek peace,” according to Foro Penal, a Venezuelan advocacy group for prisoners. Eight hundred and four political prisoners remained imprisoned as of Saturday night, Foro Penal said. Officials had not identified or given a number of prisoners being considered for release, leaving rights groups and families waiting outside prisons in Caracas and other communities with little information.

The slow-moving releases drew scrutiny from rights groups as prominent opposition figures remained detained, one week after U.S. forces seized former President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3 — a military action that reshaped Venezuela’s political situation and prompted the government’s goodwill announcement, according to the Associated Press.

Angulo’s release

Among those freed was Diógenes Angulo, 19, who had been detained two days before Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election after posting a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Chávez. He was 17 at the time of his detention.

“Thank God, I’m going to enjoy my family again,” Angulo told the Associated Press after his release Saturday. He said those still detained “are well” and have high hopes of being released soon.

Minutes after his release, Angulo learned that Maduro had been seized by U.S. forces on Jan. 3.

Trump claims credit

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the prisoner releases came at Washington’s request. “Venezuela has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Thank you! I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done.”

Acting government condemns U.S. action

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, speaking at a public social-sector event in Caracas on Saturday, condemned the Jan. 3 U.S. military operation. “There is a government, that of President Nicolás Maduro, and I have the responsibility to take charge while his kidnapping lasts … We will not stop condemning the criminal aggression,” she said.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were transferred to the United States, where both face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism. Both pleaded not guilty, according to the Associated Press. Pro-government demonstrators marched in several cities across Venezuela on Saturday, demanding their return.

Diplomacy and releases

The U.S. and Venezuelan governments announced Friday that they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations, broken since 2019. A U.S. delegation visited Venezuela for several hours on Friday.

Human rights attorney Rocío San Miguel was among the first released and relocated to Spain. Her brother, José Manuel San Miguel, said in a statement that her release “is not full freedom, but rather a precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty.” Conditions of her release ban her from speaking to the media.

Prominent figures remain held

Several prominent figures from Venezuela’s political opposition remained imprisoned as of Saturday, according to the Associated Press. They include former lawmaker Freddy Superlano; Perkins Rocha, a lawyer for opposition leader María Corina Machado; Juan Pablo Guanipa, a former governor and one of Machado’s closest allies; and Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González.

Pope calls for peace

Pope Leo XIV called Friday for maintaining peace and “respecting the will of the Venezuelan people.” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil responded, saying his country “reaffirms that it is a country that builds, works, and defends its sovereignty with peace and dignity,” and invited the pontiff “to get to know this reality more closely.”