Related videos:
The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela confirmed this Friday the release of all American citizens who had been detained in the South American country, following the announcement of a general amnesty law issued by the interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.
“We are pleased to confirm the release, by the interim authorities, of all known U.S. citizens who were detained in Venezuela. If you have information about any other Americans who are still imprisoned, please contact our consular services,” the diplomatic mission posted on its official account on @usembassyve.
The announcement comes just a few hours after Rodríguez declared, during an event at the Supreme Court of Justice, the enactment of a general amnesty law aimed at “promoting national coexistence” and ending legal proceedings against political prisoners, military personnel, and civilians detained in recent years.
According to a report from El País, the regulation will be debated and approved in the National Assembly “most likely next week,” although the interim president assured that the releases have already begun as part of a process of political reconciliation following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd.
Rodríguez explained that the measure aims to "erase the judicial cases" of the beneficiaries, which would imply a broader pardon than the releases applied in recent weeks. However, he clarified that the amnesty will not include those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, or common crimes.
In the same event —which journalists were not allowed to attend— Rodríguez also announced that El Helicoide, the feared political prison of chavismo, will be transformed into a “center for social and sports services,” which he described as a gesture of symbolic closure of the repressive past.
The measure comes after weeks of international pressure and discreet negotiations with Washington, overseen by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump, who have tied the progress of the Venezuelan transition process to the release of political prisoners and American citizens.
According to figures from human rights advocacy NGOs, as of this week more than 600 people are said to have been released for political reasons, although the advocates for the detainees lower that number to around 300. Thousands more remain under precautionary measures or forced exile.
The United States has kept its consular line open to confirm whether there are still Americans detained in detention centers or under judicial supervision in Venezuela, and reiterated its commitment to the process of transition towards a "free and democratic Venezuela."
Filed under: