MADRID, Jan 9 (Reuters) – Four Spanish nationals and a prominent Venezuelan-Spanish rights activist arrived in Madrid on Friday a day after they were released from prison in Venezuela in the aftermath of the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday Venezuela was freeing a large number of political prisoners as a sign of “seeking peace” – though rights groups there say there have not been any large-scale releases so far.
The five had been reunited with friends and family, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said.
“Today is a happy day,” the minister wrote on X. “I hope to see them soon and wish them a swift return to normal life.”
San Miguel, who was detained in February 2024 at Maiquetia International Airport near Caracas, is a lawyer and expert on security and Venezuela’s military.
Two of the others – Andres Martínez Adasme and Jose María Basoa, both from the Basque Country – were detained in September 2024 accused of being members of Spanish intelligence plotting to kill Maduro, a claim the Spanish government has repeatedly denied.
The other freed were named as Ernesto Gorbe and Miguel Moreno.
Spain has called Venezuela’s action a “positive step.”
(Reporting by Susana Vera, Guillermo Martinez; writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
