Venezuela announces general amnesty for political prisoners held since 1999

Amnesty Law Initiative Presented by the Venezuelan President

The President of Venezuela introduced a new initiative on Friday during the inauguration of the judicial year at the Supreme Court. Delcy Rodríguez instructed the Judicial Revolution Commission to draft the corresponding legal document within hours to enable its submission to the National Assembly for approval. The proposed legislation would exclude individuals sentenced for homicide, drug-related crimes, or human rights violations. Rodríguez emphasized that those regaining their liberty should not act out of vengeance, retaliation or resentment.

According to the Venezuelan NGO Foro Penal, there are around 711 people currently held as political prisoners. However, the government has repeatedly rejected this number, claiming the detainees are terrorists. Since 8 January, the organisation has recorded 302 releases, although official data differ: the interior minister cites 808 releases since December, while the attorney general reports 643 precautionary measures.

Cautious Optimism Amid Renewed Dialogue

María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2025, stated through social media that US pressure played a decisive role in this move. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Cartagena, she commented that the government did not take this action voluntarily. Machado noted that some individuals had been detained for as long as 23 years and asserted that President Rodríguez is incapable of generating trust and stability to ensure a political shift.

Opposition deputies such as Henrique Capriles and Stalin González welcomed the plan, viewing it as a meaningful and necessary gesture. Meanwhile, families of inmates voiced a cautious blend of hope and doubt following many years of unfulfilled commitments. Venezuela has not passed an amnesty since 2007, when Hugo Chávez granted clemency to those linked to the 2002 coup attempt. A 2016 legislative effort was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In 2020, Maduro issued a decree granting 110 pardons before legislative elections that the main opposition bloc boycotted.

This proposal coincides with renewed contact between Rodríguez and the Trump administration. The acting president acknowledged discussions with Trump and Marco Rubio on bilateral topics, including reopening airspace and reintroducing foreign investment in the oil sector. Rodríguez also suggested transforming the Helicoide — headquarters of the Venezuelan intelligence agency Sebin, long associated with the torture of political detainees — into a social and sports complex.