A total of 1,557 Venezuelan political prisoners have applied for amnesty under a new law enacted this week, the head of the country’s legislature said on Saturday. Authorities also report that hundreds of detainees have already been released as the process begins.
Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, said the applications were being attended to “immediately” and that the law could ultimately extend benefits to thousands more people held for political reasons.
The measure, passed unanimously by the legislature and championed by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, comes after international pressure and following the high‑profile US military raid that captured former President Nicolás Maduro in early January.
Under the law, amnesty is not automatic. Individuals must formally request the benefit through the court overseeing their case. Prosecutors have already asked courts to grant amnesty to 379 prisoners, and authorities said 80 people were freed in Caracas on Saturday alone.
The legislation is expected to benefit a wide range of detainees, including opposition politicians, activists, journalists and human rights defenders. However, it does not apply to people convicted of serious offences like homicide, drug trafficking, grave human rights abuses or military rebellion.
Human rights groups and critics say the law still falls short. They argue that excluding certain categories of prisoners and requiring a formal court process limits access for many who have been detained for political reasons. Some activists also want the measure to cover those under house arrest or alternative detention more clearly.
Rodríguez said the law also covers more than 11,000 people who were previously under parole or other restricted statuses, and efforts are underway to ensure they are reviewed under the new provisions.
