Statement January 6, 2026
Venezuela: Guidance for a Peaceful Transition to Democracy
The United States should work with opposition leaders and the international community to ensure the release of political prisoners, reestablish the rule of law, and clear the way for a freely elected Venezuelan government.
WASHINGTON—To promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela, Freedom House Presidents Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian issued the following statement:
“It is imperative for all those who support freedom to work together and ensure that Venezuela undergoes a peaceful transition to democracy. Officials and institutional elements of the existing regime remain in place following Nicolás Maduro’s detention and removal by the United States, and the country’s entrenched authoritarian infrastructure is still intact. At this moment, the future of democratic governance in Venezuela and across the region appears uncertain and fragile.
“Freedom House urges democratic governments and international institutions to act with urgency to establish the conditions for a peaceful and legitimate transition to democratic rule in Venezuela, in keeping with the fundamental rights, dignity, and sovereignty of the Venezuelan people. The country’s democratic opposition must be fully included in all transitional processes.
“A successful transition will depend on the reestablishment of the rule of law, respect for constitutional order, and the restoration of strong, independent public institutions. To foster confidence in these efforts, international actors must help secure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Venezuela, who remain highly vulnerable. The political opposition, journalists, civil society actors, and all those engaging in peaceful dissent must be protected from retaliation, and the repressive structures that have long been used to persecute the regime’s perceived opponents must be dismantled.
“Equally critical is the protection of Venezuelans’ access to reliable information. Censorship, surveillance, and technological disruption must end, and freedom of expression—both online and offline—must be guaranteed.
“Venezuela’s full recovery from decades of authoritarian rule will take time, as will the pursuit of justice and accountability for human rights violations. However, the priorities and principles that are established now will determine whether the transition leads to lasting peace, a restoration of public trust in democratic institutions, and the fulfilment of the Venezuelan people’s legitimate aspirations to live in freedom and prosperity. Only a democratic Venezuela can serve as a reliable neighbor and a credible partner in addressing the Western Hemisphere’s shared economic and security challenges.”
Venezuela is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2025 and Not Free in Freedom on the Net 2025.
Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to create a world where all are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.