Venezuela’s government on Sunday released from prison several prominent opposition members, including one of the closest allies of Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, after lengthy politically motivated detentions.

A number of prominent critics have started to emerge from hiding to test the limits of political speech after years of self-imposed silence driven by fear.

Venezuela's National Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved a long-awaited amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners jailed for being government detractors.

The release of around 35 political prisoners comes amid closer cooperation between Washington and the interim government.