The legal norm, applicable to conflicts since 1999, was immediately signed by interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The move comes at a time of deep political change following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro in January and under strong pressure from the international community.
Venezuela’s parliament passed an amnesty law Friday night that could see hundreds of political prisoners released from prison. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez subsequently signed it, reports TASR according to the AP and AFP agencies.
- The Venezuelan parliament approved the law on amnesty for political prisoners.
- Interim President Delcy Rodríguez immediately signed the law.
- The amnesty covers acts committed since 1999.
- The law can release more than 600 political prisoners.
- General amnesty has been a long-standing demand of the opposition.
Amnesty for political prisoners
The bill, introduced last week, aims to grant a general and complete amnesty for crimes or misdemeanors committed during specific periods since 1999 that have been marked by politically motivated conflicts in Venezuela, including “acts of politically motivated violence” related to presidential elections.
The law is an initiative of Rodríguez, who assumed the presidency after President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken away from Venezuela on January 3 by US special forces. Rodríguez, who is working with US President Donald Trump on Venezuelan oil, has since come under pressure to release political prisoners.
A long-standing request
The adopted law could mean freedom for opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others who have been targeted by the ruling party for the past 27 years.
General amnesty is a long-term main demand of the Venezuelan opposition. Foro Penal, a local organization for the protection of prisoners’ rights, estimates that more than 600 people are imprisoned in the country for political reasons.
