SAN FRANCISCO DE YARE, Venezuela — As Di\u00f3genes Angulo was freed Saturday from a Venezuelan prison after a year and five months, he, his mother and his aunt trembled and struggled for words. Nearby, at least a dozen other families hoped for similar reunions. <\/p>\n
Angulo\u2019s release came on the third day that families had gathered outside prisons in the capital, Caracas, and other communities hoping to see loved ones walk out after Venezuela<\/a> \u2019s government pledged to free what it described as a significant number of prisoners. Members of Venezuela\u2019s political opposition, activists, journalists and soldiers were among the detainees that families hoped would be released. <\/p>\n Angulo was detained two days before the 2024 presidential election after he posted a video of an opposition demonstration in Barinas, the home state of the late President Hugo Ch\u00e1vez. He was 17 at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cThank God, I\u2019m going to enjoy my family again,\u201d he told The Associated Press, adding that others still detained \u201care well\u201d and have high hopes of being released soon. His faith, he said, gave him the strength to keep going during his detention.<\/p>\n Minutes after he was freed, the now 19-year-old learned that former President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro<\/a> had been captured by U.S. forces Jan. 3 in a nighttime raid in Caracas. <\/p>\n The government has not identified or offered a count of the prisoners being considered for release, leaving rights groups scouring for hints of information and families to watch the hours tick by with no word. <\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> has hailed the release and said it came at Washington\u2019s request.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Venezuela<\/a> \u2019s government pledged to free what it said would be a significant number of prisoners. But as of Saturday, fewer than 20 people had been released<\/a>, according to Foro Penal, an advocacy group for prisoners based in Caracas. Eight hundred and nine remained imprisoned, the group said.<\/p>\n A relative of activist Roc\u00edo San Miguel, one of the first to be released and who relocated to Spain, said in a statement that her release \u201cis not full freedom, but rather a precautionary measure substituting deprivation of liberty.\u201d<\/p>\n Among the prominent members of the country\u2019s political opposition who were detained after the 2024 presidential elections<\/a> and remain in prison are former lawmaker Freddy Superlano, former governor Juan Pablo Guanipa, and Perkins Rocha, lawyer for opposition leader Mar\u00eda Corina Machado<\/a>. The son-in-law of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonz\u00e1lez also remains imprisoned.<\/p>\n One week after the U.S. military intervention in Caracas, Venezuelans aligned with the government marched in several cities across the country demanding the return of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The pair were captured and transferred to the United States, where they face charges including conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism.<\/p>\n Hundreds demonstrated in cities including Caracas, Trujillo, Nueva Esparta and Miranda, many waving Venezuelan flags. In Caracas, crowds chanted: \u201cMaduro, keep on going, the people are rising.\u201d<\/p>\n Acting president Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/a>, speaking at a public social-sector event in Caracas, again condemned the U.S. military action on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a government, that of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, and I have the responsibility to take charge while his kidnapping lasts … . We will not stop condemning the criminal aggression,\u201d she said, referring to Maduro\u2019s ousting.<\/p>\n On Saturday, Trump said on social media: \u201cI love the Venezuelan people and I am already making Venezuela prosperous and safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n After the shocking military action that overthrew Maduro, Trump stated that the United States would govern the South American country and requested access to oil resources, which he promised to use \u201cto benefit the people\u201d of both countries.<\/p>\n Venezuela and the United States announced Friday that they are evaluating the restoration of diplomatic relations<\/a>, broken since 2019, and the reopening of their respective diplomatic missions. A mission from Trump\u2019s administration arrived in the South American country on Friday, the State Department said.<\/p>\n