SAN JOSE, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Authorities in Nicaragua have released 38 people accused of celebrating the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, a human rights watchdog group reported Wednesday, after dozens were reportedly detained earlier this month.

Nicaraguan co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo are staunch allies of Maduro, who was captured by US military personnel in Caracas on January 3 and taken to New York to face trial on drug and weapons charges.

The NGO Blue and White Monitoring, which compiles reports of human rights violations in Nicaragua, said at least 71 people were arrested in the Central American country during the days after Maduro's ouster on accusations of celebrating or expressing support for it.

"What we have confirmed...is that 38 people from that group were released," Claudia Pineda, a spokeswoman for the group, told online publication 100% Noticias.

Pineda, who did not say when the arrested people were released, indicated those who had been freed were placed under a "report and control" regimen in which they must "report each move they are going to make."

Nicaraguan officials have yet to officially comment on the releases.