Venezuela Releases 99 Post-Election Protesters
Is Venezuela's release of 99 detainees a cynical PR stunt, or a genuine gesture toward peace and dialogue?
Above: President Nicolás Maduro commemorates the 166th Anniversary of the Battle of Santa Inés on Dec. 10, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela. Image credit: Jesus Vargas/Contributor/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Maduro's so-called Christmas release of 99 protesters is nothing but a cynical PR stunt while nearly 1,000 political prisoners remain locked up for opposing a stolen election. The regime refuses to even acknowledge these are political prisoners, instead labeling peaceful demonstrators as terrorists. This selective release confirms imprisonment has been weaponized as political persecution.
Establishment-critical narrative
Venezuela freed 99 detainees on Christmas as a genuine gesture toward peace and dialogue during unprecedented U.S. military aggression and economic blockade. The move represents a measured act of clemency in the face of foreign intervention, marking the largest release in a year and signaling a willingness to ease tensions.
