At least 104 people identified as political detainees by a prominent Venezuelan human rights organization were freed on Sunday, marking a significant development in what appears to be an ongoing and loosely coordinated release process. The releases took place in detention facilities across different parts of the country, and additional prisoners were believed to be gaining their freedom around the same time, according to Alfredo Romero, director of the rights group Foro Penal.

Romero disclosed the latest figure in a public statement, noting that the releases were unfolding simultaneously in multiple locations. He stressed, however, that the absence of official documentation from the government continued to complicate efforts to independently verify the scale and scope of the process. According to him, transparency remains a central concern, particularly as families and advocacy groups attempt to track who has been released and who remains in custody. Romero said it would be preferable for authorities to publish formal lists detailing the identities of those freed, rather than leaving confirmation to civil society organisations.

The announcement came against the backdrop of conflicting figures from government officials. Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Friday that a total of 626 detainees had been released, though she did not clarify when those releases began or over what period they occurred. The lack of a clear timeline has made it difficult for independent observers to reconcile official statements with data compiled by rights groups.

Before Sunday’s developments, Foro Penal had confirmed the release of only 156 political prisoners nationwide since January 8, a figure that sharply contrasted with the number cited by the government. The discrepancy has fueled skepticism among activists, who argue that without transparent records, it is impossible to determine whether the releases reflect a broad policy shift or a series of isolated decisions.

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Rodriguez has said she plans to raise the issue with the international community. She is scheduled to hold a call on Monday with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, during which she intends to request that the United Nations verify the names of those reportedly released so far. That verification process, if it proceeds, could provide an external assessment of the government’s claims and help establish a clearer picture of the situation on the ground.

For years, the detention of political opponents and critics has been a central point of contention between Venezuela’s government and human rights organisations, both domestic and international. Foro Penal and similar groups maintain detailed records of arrests, charges, and releases, often stepping in where official information is scarce or unavailable. While Sunday’s releases were welcomed by families and advocates, they cautioned that sustained transparency and independent oversight would be necessary to determine whether the process signals a meaningful change or remains limited in practice.