Venezuela frees political prisoners after Trump-Rodriguez talks, but opposition demands elections
Venezuelan authorities released dozens of political prisoners early Saturday, days after interim leader Delcy Rodriguez met US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly. Human rights group Foro Penal confirmed the release of individuals including Wilder Vasquez and Frank Cabañas, who had been detained for years. While the government has not officially commented on the latest releases, opposition figures and rights groups are using the event to renew demands for free elections. Rodriguez previously pledged prisoner releases and elections to the US as part of a reconciliation effort following the seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. However, the release scheme slowed in April, and critics argue that less than half of political prisoners were freed before it ended. The meeting between Rodriguez and Trump has drawn sharp criticism from opposition voices who view it as a snub to their calls for swift democratic transitions, while Rodriguez reiterated in her UN speech that elections will occur in Venezuela without specifying a date.