US Says Venezuela Freed Over 1,000 Prisoners
VENEZUELA · POLITICS
Key Facts
- —What is happening On Thursday, 22 October, the US State Department said Venezuela’s third round of political talks produced tangible results and that more than 1,000 political prisoners have been freed.
- —Why it matters Washington calls the talks part of a three-phase plan of stabilisation, economic recovery and political reconciliation, so each round shows how far the US-backed transition toward elections has come.
- —The numbers More than 1,000 prisoners freed, 32 new Supreme Court judges due by December, more than 70 blocked websites restored, and about 31 tonnes of gold (about US$4 billion) held in London.
- —Who is who Jorge Rodríguez leads the government side, Dinorah Figuera leads the opposition team from the 2015 National Assembly, and his sister Delcy Rodríguez is Venezuela’s acting president.
- —What to watch The fourth round of talks, due 11 to 15 November, and whether either side finally sets a date for a presidential election.
- —Prediction markets Polymarket gives 8.5% to Venezuela scheduling a presidential election by 31 December (24 October, 12:51 p.m. ET).
- —Power Index Venezuela ranks 13th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 27.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US investors in Venezuelan oil and debt, and Venezuelan families in the United States, should watch whether the talks produce an election date and more prisoner releases.
The US says more than 1,000 political prisoners have been freed in Venezuela. It also says the third round of talks in Caracas produced tangible results.
The US State Department said on Thursday, 22 October, that the third round of political talks in Venezuela produced tangible results. It also said more than 1,000 political prisoners have been released.
The talks bring the government and part of the opposition to one table in Caracas. They follow the US capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, 3 January.
In Plain English
- The talks: meetings in Caracas between the government and one opposition group, backed by Washington.
- 2015 National Assembly: the last parliament the opposition won; part of the opposition still treats it as legitimate.
- Acting president: Delcy Rodríguez, who runs Venezuela since the US captured Nicolás Maduro.
- Disqualification: an official ban that stops a politician from running for office.
What the State Department Said
Spokesperson Tommy Pigott issued the statement, which Infobae (EFE) and Semana reported on Thursday evening. He said the process is led by Venezuelans and aims to lay the base for free, fair and credible elections.
Pigott listed an agreement to review laws he called repressive, progress on a new Supreme Court and more than 70 unblocked websites. He also cited a deal on gold held in London and support for reforming the Law Against Hate.
He repeated Washington’s call for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The statement places the talks inside President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan, the third phase being political reconciliation.
What the Two Sides Agreed
The government and the 2015 National Assembly said the third round ended in Caracas after six days of work, Semana reported. They agreed to review political disqualifications, which have kept many opposition leaders from running for office.
Semana lists a deep review of the comptroller law, the political parties law and the legal definition of terrorism. A joint commission will also work to recover Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England.
Euronews reported in August that the gold is about 31 tonnes, worth about US$4 billion. The State Department said the gold is meant for aid after the June earthquakes.
The Bank of England was waiting for a court ruling and declined to comment in August, Euronews said. Background is in earlier reports on the gold panel and the law review.
Courts, Websites and Prisoners
A State Department statement of Friday, 9 October, said a new law sets the selection of 32 Supreme Court judges by December. It also said access to more than 70 blocked web domains was restored.
The same statement counted over 1,000 prisoners freed, and the interim government announced 177 more releases, SBT News reported. The sources reviewed give no names, and no independent count was found.
Who Sits at the Table
Jorge Rodríguez presides over the National Assembly and leads the government team, and he is the brother of Delcy Rodríguez. Venezuelan outlet El Diario and Ecuador’s Primicias reported that the US Treasury lifted its sanctions on him on 14 October.
Dinorah Figuera heads the opposition delegation, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met her on 9 October. Opposition leader María Corina Machado and Edmundo González are not part of this dialogue, El Diario reported.
On Thursday, Delcy Rodríguez received Figuera and Jorge Rodríguez at Miraflores palace, state channel VTV said. Semana described it as the first time she had received the head of the opposition delegation.
What Is Still Missing
The opposition’s main demand is a presidential election, which it proposes for 2027. The first three rounds produced no specific electoral agreement, the EFE news agency reported.
Thousands marched in Caracas on Thursday, Semana reported, as earlier reports describe. They demanded a vote and the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado.
What It Means for US Readers
Investors in Venezuelan oil and debt follow the talks because the US plan ties economic recovery to political steps. A credible election would be the plan’s final phase, so a date would be a market signal.
The US Embassy in Caracas is now reported fully staffed, and a wider guide explains the US-Venezuela relationship. Background is in reports on the embassy’s return.
What Prediction Markets Say
Bettors on Polymarket give 8.5% to Venezuela scheduling a presidential election by 31 December (24 October, 12:51 p.m. ET). That is the midpoint of an 8 cent bid and 9 cent ask on a market that has traded about US$152,000.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What Is Not Known
The State Department’s 22 October statement could not be opened, so its English wording comes from Spanish-language reports by Infobae and Semana. EFE counts the 1,000 releases since Maduro’s capture in January, while Europa Press quotes Pigott on releases since contacts began.
The gold value of about US$4 billion is a media estimate, and the sources give no figure for the new joint commission. No election date has been set, and the sources do not say when any disqualification will end.
What Comes Next
The fourth round is reported for Wednesday, 11 November to Sunday, 15 November, according to Jorge Rodríguez as quoted by EFE. The State Department said on 9 October that the 32 Supreme Court judges are due by December.
None of this sets a date for a presidential vote. The opposition still wants one in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the US say about Venezuela on 22 October?
The State Department said the third round of talks produced tangible results. It also said more than 1,000 political prisoners have been freed.
Who is negotiating in Venezuela?
Jorge Rodríguez leads the government side and Dinorah Figuera leads the opposition team. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez received both on Thursday.
Has Venezuela set an election date?
No date has been set. The opposition proposes a presidential vote in 2027, and the first three rounds produced no electoral agreement.
What is the gold at the Bank of England?
It is about 31 tonnes, valued at about US$4 billion by media. A joint commission will try to recover it for earthquake relief.
When is the next round of talks?
The fourth round is reported for 11 to 15 November. The sources reviewed do not give a venue or agenda.
Sources: Infobae (EFE), 22 October; Infobae (Europa Press), 23 October; Semana, 22 October; SBT News, 9 October statement; El Diario, 18 October; Primicias, 14 October; Euronews, 17 August (all accessed 24 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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