MADRID, CARACAS – Venezuelan opposition leader Dinorah Figuera has called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Venezuela, including civilians and military personnel, while revealing that the country's interim government is preparing to announce another round of releases following negotiations with opposition representatives.
Speaking from Madrid in an interview with journalist David Placer on Sunday, November 8, Figuera said she recently met with Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela's National Assembly and a leading representative of the administration headed by interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
According to Figuera, the meeting took place approximately two days before the interview, during which Jorge Rodríguez indicated that an announcement concerning additional prisoner releases was imminent.
The opposition leader, who heads the National Assembly elected in 2015 and represents an opposition delegation in the negotiations, said the release of political prisoners remains one of the principal demands being presented to the Venezuelan authorities.
She emphasized that the opposition is seeking the release of everyone detained for political reasons, rather than limited measures benefiting only selected individuals.
Figuera said particular attention is being given to women in detention, prisoners suffering from health problems, members of the armed forces, and individuals who have already completed their sentences but remain imprisoned.
Although she expressed optimism that further releases could take place soon, she did not provide a specific date or indicate how many detainees might benefit.
The anticipated announcement comes as Venezuela prepares for another round of political negotiations between the interim administration and opposition representatives. The dialogue process began in August and is expected to enter its fourth phase.
One of the most sensitive issues concerns military personnel imprisoned on politically motivated charges, according to opposition groups and human rights organizations.
Figuera revealed that she has personally raised the situation of detained military personnel with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, conveying requests from relatives who want their family members released.
Some military prisoners have also expressed a desire to leave Venezuela after their release and settle in European countries, particularly Spain and Germany.
According to Figuera, these requests are partly motivated by the possibility of reuniting with relatives already living abroad.
She confirmed that diplomatic contacts have been initiated to explore possible arrangements.
Among those efforts was a conversation with Germany's ambassador concerning a prisoner who hopes to reunite with his daughter.
The discussions demonstrate that the negotiations involve not only the release of prisoners but also questions about their future security, freedom of movement, and ability to rebuild their lives.
Human rights organization Foro Penal reported that Venezuela still had 322 political prisoners as of October 26, despite the release of numerous detainees earlier in the year.
According to the organization, 182 of those remaining in detention were civilians and 140 were members of the armed forces.
The figures highlight the continuing concerns of human rights organizations, which argue that significant numbers of people remain imprisoned for political reasons despite recent government initiatives.
Since the beginning of 2026, Venezuela has undergone substantial political changes following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro during a United States military operation in Caracas in January.
Delcy Rodríguez subsequently assumed leadership of the interim administration, which has pursued negotiations with opposition representatives while announcing measures involving prisoners and political reconciliation.
In August, Delcy Rodríguez stated that 1,046 Venezuelans had been released since January.
The Venezuelan National Assembly also approved an amnesty law in February, which authorities say has benefited thousands of people.
However, human rights organizations and opposition representatives have emphasized that many beneficiaries were already outside prison but remained subject to judicial restrictions.
The distinction between release from prison and the complete restoration of civil liberties has therefore become an important part of the political debate.
Figuera has insisted that any process of political reconciliation must provide meaningful freedom for those affected, including the ability to reunite with their families and live without unjustified restrictions.
International pressure has also continued.
On November 2, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco and urged the Venezuelan authorities to continue releasing people detained for political reasons.
The issue has remained prominent among Venezuelan families and human rights organizations, which have organized demonstrations and maintained protests outside detention facilities.
At the Rodeo I prison in Miranda state, relatives recently ended a protest encampment that had continued for approximately ten months.
The camp had become a symbol of the families' demands for information about detainees and their release.
Activists emphasized that ending the encampment did not mean abandoning their campaign, with relatives planning to continue presenting their demands to government institutions and diplomatic representatives.
For Figuera, the issue also carries a deeply personal significance.
During her interview, she recalled Fernando Albán, a Venezuelan opposition politician and close friend who was the godfather of her daughter.
Albán died in October 2018 while in the custody of Venezuelan authorities, in a case that generated widespread controversy and international concern.
Figuera said his death remains a central motivation behind her commitment to securing the freedom of political prisoners.
She described the effort as a moral obligation, not only to Albán's memory but also to the families of others who have died while detained.
The Venezuelan authorities have maintained that individuals described by opposition organizations as political prisoners were detained for criminal offenses rather than their political beliefs.
That position is disputed by human rights organizations and opposition groups, which have documented allegations of politically motivated detention and violations of due process.
For now, the anticipated prisoner releases remain an announcement conveyed by Figuera rather than a confirmed new round of releases.
No official list of beneficiaries or implementation timetable has been made public.
The next stage of negotiations will therefore be closely watched by the families of detainees, human rights organizations, and international observers seeking to determine whether the Venezuelan authorities will translate the discussions into additional releases.
Figuera maintains that the objective must remain the freedom of every person imprisoned for political reasons, including military personnel and civilians who have been excluded from previous measures.