The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela stated that the Special Follow-up Commission for the Amnesty Law "responds to the request of more than 11,000 individuals who were under substitute measures to deprivation of liberty." In a post on X, Jorge Rodríguez noted that these measures included presentation regimes or house arrest, and that the law stipulates that "these substitute measures" should be lifted so that individuals "can enjoy full freedom."
In his public statement, he also affirmed that "hundreds of releases of people deprived of their liberty are already taking place, as they are benefiting from the amnesty law." Rodríguez added that this implementation is part of what he described as "our contribution ... from all of us who believe in the need for dialogue to build peace," and emphasized that they are seeking a "peace where we all respect each other."
The statements were made in the context of the approval of an amnesty law in Venezuela, which was unanimously approved by the National Assembly and excludes crimes such as serious human rights violations, intentional homicide, drug trafficking, and armed actions against the country's sovereignty, as well as other types of serious offenses. The legislation was sent for signature and publication in the Official Gazette after being debated in Parliament.
The amnesty law, motivated by a moment of releases and reviews of detentions following the political transition in the country, seeks to provide benefits for individuals processed or imprisoned for events related to political crises that occurred from 2002 to 2025, although it excludes certain cases as outlined in its provisions.
The same parliamentary debate included the acknowledgment that there was a "misuse" of the Law Against Hate, a regulation approved in 2017 and criticized by human rights organizations and opposition groups as a tool for political persecution, which may be subject to reform. Rodríguez admitted that this Law Against Hate has been used inappropriately and its scope is currently under review.
Human rights organizations, such as Foro Penal, have documented the releases and pardons in Venezuela in 2026 since the process was announced in early January, although they point out that there are still people detained and that the implementation of the amnesty has sparked debates regarding its actual scope and conditions. In addition to official figures, these groups have recorded releases that include judicial conditions, such as prohibitions on contact with the media or restrictions on leaving the country, which continue to affect those who receive alternative measures or prison releases following the enactment of the law.
The announcement of the figure of over 11,000 people under precautionary measures has also sparked reactions on social media regarding the effects and implications of the new legislation, while there are expectations for the special committee to progress in evaluating the cases to determine whether the judicial restrictions should be lifted and full freedom granted to the affected individuals.
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