Venezuelan authorities have announced the release of 379 political prisoners following the recent passage of an amnesty law. The move comes after the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro and is intended as a step toward political reconciliation, though its scope is already facing scrutiny.
Parliamentarian Jorge Arreaza, who spearheaded the amnesty legislation, stated late Friday that the releases and amnesties are expected “between this evening and tomorrow morning,” February 21st. He confirmed that the Public Ministry has submitted amnesty requests to the relevant courts.
The law, unanimously approved by the National Assembly and signed into law on Thursday, was a key promise made by interim President Delcy Rodríguez following Maduro’s capture in a U.S. Military operation on January 3rd. The development underscores the shifting political landscape in Venezuela and the influence of international pressure.
Scope of the Amnesty Questioned
Despite the announcement, several experts are questioning the extent of the amnesty. Concerns have been raised that individuals such as police officers and military personnel implicated in activities labeled as “terrorism” may be excluded from the measure.
the amnesty does not cover the entire period from 1999 to 2026, encompassing the presidencies of Hugo Chávez (1999-2013) and Nicolás Maduro. The law specifically references 13 defined periods, limiting its retroactive application.
Families of political prisoners have been gathering outside prisons for weeks, hoping for the release of their loved ones. Hiowanka Avila, 39, expressed apprehension, stating, “We are many who know that the amnesty law does not concern our loved ones.” Her brother, Henryberth Rivas, 30, was arrested in 2018 and accused of attempting to assassinate Nicolás Maduro. “All we can do is wait for another measure, perhaps a pardon,” she lamented.
“A Sign of Maturity”
According to the NGO Foro Penal, 448 political prisoners have already been conditionally released since the interim government announced initial releases in early January. But, approximately 650 individuals remain incarcerated on political charges.
“Today, we are building a more democratic, more just, and more free Venezuela, and this must be done with the effort of all,” President Rodríguez stated in a televised address. “The steps we are taking, we are taking with a Bolivarian conscience,” she added, emphasizing a willingness to “extend a hand to those who think differently.”
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino described the law as “a sign of maturity and political strength, which constitutes a decisive step for the stability of the nation” in a released statement.
“Freedom for All”
Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal, noted on Friday that the amnesty is “not automatic,” criticizing the judicial process required to benefit from it. Ali Daniels, director of the NGO Acceso a la Justicia, echoed these concerns, pointing to “serious structural deficiencies” and stating, “The balance sheet of the law is negative” because it leaves many people out.
Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa, who was released on February 8th after nine months of detention on “conspiracy” charges, was re-arrested shortly after, announced on Friday that his house arrest is no longer in effect and he is completely free.
“We are all going to fight so that what has just begun becomes a reality and that we have democracy, freedom for all and equality!” Guanipa declared to supporters gathered in Maracaibo, calling for elections. From exile in Spain, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition candidate claiming victory in the 2024 presidential election, stated that there would be “no lasting reconciliation without memory” and “reparation.”
Potential for Sanctions Relief
Delcy Rodríguez, governing under U.S. Pressure, had promised both an amnesty and judicial reform on January 30th. She has fast-tracked a new oil law opening the sector to private investment and initiated a normalization of relations with the United States, which had been severed since 2019.
Madrid has indicated it will request the European Union to lift sanctions imposed on the Venezuelan interim president in light of the amnesty announcement.
