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3w ago

Venezuela Sets Feb. 13 Target to Free Political Prisoners After Unanimous First Amnesty Vote

The assembly chief says releases will start once a final vote expected Tuesday turns the measure into law.

The President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodriguez (L) is the brother of the interim president, and next in the constitutional line of succession
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People rally at the entrance of the Central University of Venezuela calling for the release of prisoners after the announcement of an amnesty law, in Caracas, Venezuela, February 3, 2026. REUTERS/Marco Bello
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Overview

  • The National Assembly approved the amnesty bill in its first reading unanimously on Thursday, with a second and final vote set for Tuesday.
  • Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez pledged that everyone covered would be released between Tuesday and Friday, Feb. 13, beginning the day the law is approved.
  • A draft reviewed by media grants clemency for protest- and expression-related offenses dating from Jan. 1, 1999, to Jan. 30, 2026, restores political rights including for María Corina Machado, cancels Interpol measures, and orders the return of seized assets.
  • The proposal explicitly excludes serious violations of human rights, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking from amnesty.
  • Release figures are disputed, with the government citing nearly 900 freed versus Foro Penal’s verified 383 and an estimate of about 680 still detained, fueling demands for public lists and independent verification.