SHOTLIST:

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JAN. 9, 2026) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. CARS MOVING NEAR HELICOIDE PRISON

2. VARIOUS RELATIVES OF DETAINESS WAITING OUTSIDE

3. PRESS MEMBERS

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING SIGNS

5. PEOPLE CHANTING

6. VARIOUS OF PROTEST BEING HELD

7. VARIOUS OF VIGIL BEING HELD
CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JAN. 9, 2026: People gathered outside the Helicoide prison, holding a vigil while waiting for the release of their detained relatives on Friday, Jan. 9, in Caracas, Venezuela.

During the vigil, families denounced that only eight political prisoners have been released so far, despite earlier announcements regarding the release of a significant number of detainees.

Jorge Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, announced Thursday that Venezuela has started the process of freeing individuals held on political grounds, including international detainees.

"The Bolivarian administration has resolved to discharge a large number of Venezuelan and international prisoners, with these releases currently underway," Rodriguez said in a national video address aired on the state-operated network TeleSur.

Rodriguez assumed interim administration following a Jan. 3 military operation by the US that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They are being tried in New York for "narcoterorrism" and other charges.