Venezuela: Over 1,500 prisoners set for release under new amnesty law

In Venezuela, at least 1,557 people held for political reasons have submitted their applications under an amnesty bill that was signed into law this week and are expected to be released from prison, authorities said Saturday. This measure is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others detained for months or even years. “As of today, 1,152 new applications have been received, for a total of 1,557 that are being addressed immediately, and at this moment hundreds of releases of persons deprived of liberty who are benefiting from the Amnesty Law are already taking place,” National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said on Saturday.
The new law excludes those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, serious human rights violations and military rebellion. Human rights organizations are calling for the law to be applied to all prisoners held for political reasons, even if they are not listed among the beneficiaries. “It is discriminatory and unconstitutional to exclude imprisoned military personnel and persecuted political figures,” Alfredo Romero, president of Foro Penal, said on X. Without this, “there can be no talk of national coexistence,” he said.
Venezuela’s legislature has approved an amnesty bill that could potentially free people detained during previous administrations.  After the bill’s passage on Thursday, interim President Delcy Rodriguez signed it into law. She said it will enable Venezuela to shed hatred and intolerance and open the door for reconciliation. US President Donald Trump has been urging Rodriguez to release political prisoners. She assumed the current post after a US military operation led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela since January 5, said during the signing of the law that it showed that the country’s political leaders were “letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela.”
The bill’s purpose is to grant people “a general and full amnesty for crimes or offenses committed” during specific periods since 1999 that were marked by politically driven conflicts in Venezuela, including “acts of politically motivated violence” in the context of the 2024 presidential election. The aftermath of that election led to protests and the arrest of more than 2,000 people, including minors. Meanwhile,Venezuela-based nonprofit Justice, Encounter and Forgiveness has tallied 459 releases of detainees held for political reasons between January 8 and February 20 this year.