Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Friday (January 23) that 626 people have been released from prison to date as part of an ongoing release process, yet she did not specify the timeline of the reported releases.

Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal has confirmed the release of just 154 political prisoners in Venezuela since January 8.

Rodriguez said that she is due to have a call on Monday with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to ask the U.N. to verify the lists of those released so far in the Andean nation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JANUARY 23, 2026) (VENEZUELA GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

1. VENEZUELAN INTERIM PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, DURING A MEETING WITH OFFICIALS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN INTERIM PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF MEETING ATTENDEE)

"I would also like to report that, as of today, 626 people who had been deprived of their liberty have been released from prison. There are anti-political sectors that have failed to understand the moment. There are sectors that persist in manipulating and maneuvering."

3. RODRIGUEZ AND OFFICIALS DURING MEETING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN INTERIM PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE BEGINS OVER GENERAL SHOT OF MEETING)

"I will have a phone call with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, and I will ask him to have his office verify the lists of those released from prison in Venezuela. Enough with the lies, enough with lying to the Venezuelan people, it has cost us dearly."

5. RODRIGUEZ AND OFFICIALS DURING MEETING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN INTERIM PRESIDENT, DELCY RODRIGUEZ, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOTS OF MEETING AND ATTENDEES)

"A second step, and I would like to urge the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, in his capacity as president of the Council for Sovereignty and Peace of Venezuela, to immediately call a meeting with all political sectors in the country. Political sectors that agree and those that disagree, political opponents, and a call for a true political dialogue with concrete, immediate results. And let that political dialogue be called Venezuelan political dialogue."

7. OFFICIALS DURING MEETING