The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, announced this Friday a “general amnesty law” for political prisoners in the country, with the goal —as she stated— of “promoting coexistence in Venezuela.”
The announcement, reported by El País, took place during an event at the Supreme Court of Justice and, according to reports, the measure will be presented to the National Assembly for discussion and approval “probably next week.”
The measure could benefit hundreds of political prisoners who remain incarcerated, in a context marked by a process of releases that, according to the government itself, exceeds 600 releases, although advocates for the detainees lower that figure to 302.
Rodríguez declared: “I announce a general amnesty law and I request that this law be presented to the National Assembly to promote coexistence in Venezuela,” and he urged to avoid “violence or revenge” in order to live “with respect,” also noting that the decision had been discussed with Nicolás Maduro.
According to the report, the amnesty aims to grant amnesty and "erase the charges" of those released from prison, which would imply a broader pardon than the scheme applied in recent weeks, when several released individuals left prison but remained under precautionary measures (such as prohibitions on leaving the country or restrictions on making statements or accessing certain jobs).
The future law, Rodríguez warned, will exclude those convicted of homicide, drug offenses, and common crimes.
In the same event —restricted to journalists, according to the text— Rodríguez made another announcement that some attendees deemed surprising: The Helicoide, an emblematic detention center associated with the repression of Chavismo, would be turned into a center for social and sports services for the community. He also assured that he would fight against corruption in the judiciary.
The announcement comes nearly a month after the start of the releases, which—according to reports—have been gradual since U.S. assault forces captured Nicolás Maduro in the early morning of January 3.
Although chavismo has portrayed the releases as massive, the report indicates that the process has been slow and opaque, with no clear official information about who will benefit, and ongoing demands from families for the publication of lists.
In some cases, he adds, the concessions did not even involve release from prison, but rather just the possibility of visits for detainees who had been isolated for months.
Contested figures and social pressure
The defending NGOs have confirmed just over 300 releases in the past month, but there are still between 600 and 700 political prisoners remaining, according to various sources.
This figure is further increased by more than 9,000 individuals under judicial measures, in addition to an unspecified number of exiles due to political persecution.
The report indicates that relatives have set up vigils and camps in front of prisons to push for total liberation, and that the cause has reignited protests that had subsided following the increase in political persecution.
Since 1999, there have been no precedents for amnesty, although there have been pardons, such as in 2020, when Maduro released 110 opposition members (including members of Juan Guaidó's team).
In that case, a list was published, but advocates reported that it had been "padded" with common prisoners and people who had already been released.
The general amnesty has been a recurring demand from opposition sectors and victims of repression.
According to El País, the discussion gained momentum after the president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, announced the release of a "significant number" of detainees just days after Maduro's capture, a statement that was deemed insufficient by civil society and the opposition.
In parallel, the Committee of Mothers in Defense of Truth submitted a proposal for an amnesty law for which it is collecting signatures, setting February 1, 2014, as the starting point and including not only political prisoners but also exiles and persecuted individuals, with timelines and mechanisms for the dismissal of cases and independent verification, according to the cited document.
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